Roma tension with Rosetti dates back to Totti and Cassano’s era | OneFootball

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri repeatedly blamed UEFA referee chief Roberto Rosetti, but the tension between the Giallorossi and the ex-Serie A referee dates back to Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano’s era.

Ranieri was unhappy with Rosetti’s decision to appoint referee Tobias Stieler for an away Europa League game at Porto on Thursday and repeatedly questioned his decision during post-match interviews.

As reported by Gazzetta, Roma and Rosetti haven’t been on good terms since the 57-year-old was a Serie A referee.

Back in the 2002-03 season, during the second leg of the Coppa Italia Final against Milan, Rosetti first sent off Totti and then Cassano for dissent. Enraged at the sight of the card, the Bari-born star stormed off the field, making a famous ‘horns’ gesture toward the referee.

Roma tension with Rosetti dates back to Totti and Cassano’s era

Four years later, in 2007, Rosetti showed a red card to Simone Perrotta in a Supercoppa Final won by the Giallorossi against Inter.

Two years later, Rosetti awarded a penalty kick to Milan, who beat Roma 2-1. Ex-Roma defender Burdisso complained about the decision, but Rosetti replied: “Blame De Rossi, not me.”

The ex-midfielder, in fact, had missed a penalty kick before.

“If De Rossi had scored the equalizer, you wouldn’t be talking about the penalty now,” the referee added.

In February 2008, Rosetti showed a red card to Roma defender Philippe Mexes in a key game for the Serie A title against Inter, with the Giallorossi leading 1-0.

The Frenchman was first booked for cutting across the pitch while re-entering after an injury and then he was shown a second yellow and sent off for a challenge.

“Mexès was sent off without even committing a foul. Rosetti ruined everything,” Totti said after the match.