Totti explains red card - Football-Italia.Net
Roma captain Francesco Totti has explained why he lashed out at Inter striker Mario Balotelli during last night's Coppa Italia Final.
Totti kicked Mario Balotelli from behind and was shown a second yellow card late in the second half as Roma lost 1-0 to Inter by virtue of a goal from Diego Milito.
“Moments of anxiety can happen in a game and in such important moments. You can't always ignore very offensive insults on the pitch, direct and indirect that try to dirty a city and an entire people,” Totti said.
“Above all when the continuous flow of insults always comes from the same person who makes systematic provocation his calling card.
“I hit Balotelli because he insulted me twice and then for what he did last year at San Siro. I haven't forgotten.”
Totti is expected to receive a two-to-three match ban for his actions.
De Rossi: 'Totti will be massacred' Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi believes Francesco Totti will be 'massacred' after he was sent off for viciously kicking Mario Balotelli during last night's Coppa Italia Final.
Totti kicked Balotelli from behind in the 88th minute and then received his marching orders as Roma lost 1-0 to Inter at the Olimpico.
Speaking after the game, De Rossi was asked to comment on Totti's actions.
“Now, he'll probably be massacred.”
Reflecting on the match itself, De Rossi said: “It's a shame. We tried, but it went badly.
“I am sorry because this Cup would have given us a thousand motivations and it would have been the icing on the cake of a very positive season.”