Zenit St Petersburg coach Andre Villas-Boas has been hit with a six-match touchline ban from Russian Premier League games after arguing with a fourth official, the club confirmed on Thursday.

The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager was punished by the Russian Football Union's (RFU) disciplinary committee following an incident in Zenit's Premier League defeat to Krylya Sovietov at the Petrovsky Stadium on Saturday.

With the hosts trailing 1-0 after 34 minutes, the Portuguese became engaged in a heated debate with the fourth official and was subsequently sent to the stands.

Zenit St Petersburg coach Andre Villas-Boas has been banned for six games after a row with the fourth official

The Portuguese was sent to the stands after rowing with the official during a game against Krylya Sovietov

Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg subsequently lost the game 3-1 on Saturday

The former Chelsea and Tottenham coach heads for the stands after being given his marching orders

The Russian champions went on to lose 3-1, leaving them lying third in the table after seven matches - six points behind leaders CSKA Moscow.

Meanwhile, Zenit sporting director Maxim Mitrofanov has slammed AC Milan and Juventus for trying to lure Belgium international Axel Witsel to Serie A this summer.

Both clubs were interested in signing the 26-year-old midfielder before pulling out when they were unable to secure an initial loan deal.

The Portuguese struggled to get his methods across at both Chelsea and Tottenham (above)

'Every player has a price,' Mitrofanov told Championat.

'If someone wants to buy Witsel, there's a (£72million) clause in his contract. I don't think any of the suitors were willing to pay that amount.

'On the last day of the transfer window, I spoke with Witsel and his agent. I told them that there were now two possibilities.

'They could either extend his contract, or, if the lad insists on leaving, get a team to pay the release clause in his current contract. If the offer isn't sufficient, Witsel still has a contract until 2017.

'He's assured me he'll stay at the club until the end of his contract, he understands that there are some things in football that you can't do, especially when someone calls the club on the last day without a concrete proposal.

The Russian club have slammed AC Milan and Juventus for their failed attempts to sign Axel Witsel (centre)

'Milan only got in touch with us in earnest in the last two days of the window.

'Our response was: 'Lads, have you seen the date? You're late'.

'Maybe they were trying to contact the player's agent. UEFA can check whether there was some violation according to the rules of the transfer market.