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Italy's Totti is suspended for three games for spitting at Dane defender
By JEFF ISRAELY | Rome |
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Posted Friday, June 18, 2004; 14:10 BST
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| LUCA BRUNO/AP |
| YELLOW CARD : Referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez shows books Italy's Francesco Totti |
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Everything changed for Italy in just a spit second. An independent Danish television camera captured Italian playmaker Francesco Totti spitting at Denmark defender Christian Poulsen in the teams' Euro 2004 opening 0-0 draw Monday. Once the video clip was aired on Wednesday, coach Giovanni Trapattoni knew he'd have to go without the man he himself had declared the key to the Azzurri engine. The only question was the length of the suspension.
The Italian squad flew in star defense attorney Giulia Bongiorno—who successfully represented onetime Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti in two Mafia-related trials—to be by Totti's side in the disciplinary hearing. Still, the 27-year-old's best hope was just to apologize profusely—which he did, saying: "I am very sorry. I don't recognize myself in that gesture."
Totti also reportedly acknowledged that he was testy on the field because he was feeling the pressure of fans' expectations. Still, UEFA on Thursday sidelined Totti for three games, though Italy could appeal for a reduction. Other recent spitting suspensions have ranged from three to eight games.
Totti, 27, the local Rome boy who has grown into a legend playing for AS Roma, the club he worshipped as a youngster, was hoping to emerge as a bona fide international star in the tournament. Now he must hope Italy makes it to the semifinals just for a chance to get back on the Euro 2004 pitch. But the Roman star known as "pupone" (big kid) he may have an even harder time restoring his image back home. "We feel like parents do when their child has done something gravely wrong," said Italian football federation chief Franco Carraro.
In the meantime Italy, which looked flat against Denmark, must rearrange its lineup for Sweden. Coach Trap' has three options for filling Totti's playmaking shoes: struggling veteran Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus, smooth AC Milan standout Andrea Pirlo or Totti's talented-laden Roma teammate Antonio Cassano—known for his volatile temper.
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 Brand it Like Beckham [Apr. 27, 2003]
England's captain on keeping his life in balance: "Never say never"
Players Behaving Badly [Jan. 14, 2002]
More English footballers wind up in the courts, prompting questions about discipline off the pitch
Home-Field Advantage [Feb. 27, 2001]
Are some foreign football stars playing for European teams with the assistance of bogus passports?
Back to the Bad Old Days
[Oct. 14, 2002]
English fans were at their worst at last week's Euro 2004 qualifying match against Slovakia
No Money, No Kickoff [Aug. 25, 2002]
Reality bites, and Italian teams are forced to take drastic action
Pink, Proud And Scoring [May. 14, 2001]
Spain's Alav s proves soccer success doesn't always require big bucks
In The Football Business [Sep. 7, 2003]
The true cost of a kick in the grass
Play and Pay [Jul. 30, 2001]
European soccer's big leagues are eager to recruit Japanese players and not just for their ball skills
Search all issues of TIME Magazine
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| Saturday, June 7, 2008 |
UEFA Euro 2008
Austia & Switzerland |
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