ISTANBUL Galatasaray's notorious Romanian star Gheorghe Hagi risks between 10 months and four years in jail for insulting a referee in a March game, Anatolian News Agency reported.

Hagi, 36, had already been punished with a six-match ban for the same outburst during a league game against Genclerbirligi on March 10.

The veteran first got a yellow card for a harsh argument with the referee after he disallowed a goal by the player following consultations with his assistant who spotted a handball.

Hagi then kicked the ball in the air, spat in the referee's face and stamped on his foot, provoking a red card.

A Turkish prosecutor here charged the footballer with three separate violations -- assault, insult against a person holding an official title and insult via the media.

If convicted of all, he could face between 10 months and four years in jail, according to Anatolia.

But convictions of insult are usually converted into fines in Turkey, AFP reported.

Galatasaray Coach Mircea Lucescu, also a Romanian, had said after the stormy match that Hagi was the victim of a "shameful provocation" by the referee, who allegedly told him ahead of the match: "Be careful, I'll send you off today."

Hagi has announced that he would retire this season to assume a coaching position in Romania.