Typically when we highlight the activity of AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi here on Balls.ie, it's a salute to something really admirable that he's done off the pitch. But not today...
The veteran Italian made headlines recently when he went out of his way to congratulated the Swedish players who had just reached the World Cup at Italy's expense, proving that he's a good sport when the dust has settled, but those who know anything about him know that the red mist can occasionally descend while he's playing.
That is exactly what happened in the second half of Roma's 1-1 draw away to Genoa. With his side leading 1-0, a moment of madness resulted in a red card and a penalty which was converted and was the final score of the game.
The replay makes for comical watching as De Rossi hits Gianluca Lapadula - on loan from AC Milan - with what can only be described as a 'bitch-slap' to the face before he embarrassed himself by diving to the ground in the hopes that the referee would think it was just a coming together.
Oh dear, Daniele.
A one-club man, there's nothing at this point that De Rossi can do to lose the love of the giallorossi faithful... But that mistake cost Roma two points leaving them behind Juventus in 4th place and seven points behind Napoli in 1st.
[via r/soccer]
