Last updated on .From the section European Football

Gonzalo Higuain scored before he was sent off in the 3-1 defeat

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain's four-match ban after reacting angrily to being sent off in a Serie A game has been reduced to three games.

Higuain, Serie A's top scorer with 30 goals, was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 3-1 loss at Udinese on 3 April.

The Argentina international, 28, pushed the referee before his team-mates removed him from the pitch.

The Italian Football Federation did not give any reason for reducing the ban.

It means Higuain will be available for second-placed Napoli's trip to Roma, who are six points adrift in third, later this month.

Napoli are six points behind Serie A leaders Juventus with six matches remaining.

Higuain, who started his ban in last week's win against Hellas Verona, will also sit out the trip to fourth-placed Inter Milan on Saturday and next weekend's home game against Bologna.