Sports / Soccer
Manager physically attacks his own player for complaining about his substitution
03 May 2012 at 11:56hrs | Views
Delio Rossi, 51, the manager for Fiorentina has been fired for physically attacking his own player Adem Ljajic after the Serbian forward complained about his first-half substitution during a 2-2 draw with Novara.
The incident occurred shortly after the half-hour mark, after Fiorentina had fallen behind 2-0. As Ljajic walked towards the bench he put his thumb up to applaud Rossi sarcastically for the substitution. When the player sat down, Rossi ran over and appeared to slap Ljajic in the face. As it appeared Rossi was lining up a punch, the coach was pulled away by his assistants and other players.
The Fiorentina president, Andrea Della Valle, announced Rossi's firing after the match without immediately announcing a replacement. "I spoke with Delio Rossi and he's prepared to apologise but this was a choice that had to be made," Della Valle said on Italy's Sky TV.
"It's a choice I should never have had to make but there is no justification for Delio Rossi's actions. The firing is for his well-being. He's a great person." Della Valle indicated that a replacement would be announced on Thursday.
Fiorentina are having a miserable season. Rossi replaced Sinisa Mihajlovic in November but has been unable to turn the Tuscan club's season around.
"I can understand the tension of the moment but losing your cool in that manner is inexcusable," the Italian Players' Association president, Damiano Tommasi, said, according to the ANSA news agency.
"It's also strange that it came from Delio Rossi, who is always very well balanced in what he says."
The incident occurred shortly after the half-hour mark, after Fiorentina had fallen behind 2-0. As Ljajic walked towards the bench he put his thumb up to applaud Rossi sarcastically for the substitution. When the player sat down, Rossi ran over and appeared to slap Ljajic in the face. As it appeared Rossi was lining up a punch, the coach was pulled away by his assistants and other players.
The Fiorentina president, Andrea Della Valle, announced Rossi's firing after the match without immediately announcing a replacement. "I spoke with Delio Rossi and he's prepared to apologise but this was a choice that had to be made," Della Valle said on Italy's Sky TV.
Fiorentina are having a miserable season. Rossi replaced Sinisa Mihajlovic in November but has been unable to turn the Tuscan club's season around.
"I can understand the tension of the moment but losing your cool in that manner is inexcusable," the Italian Players' Association president, Damiano Tommasi, said, according to the ANSA news agency.
"It's also strange that it came from Delio Rossi, who is always very well balanced in what he says."
Source - guardian
