Atalanta boss Stefano Colantuono blasted the referee after a 3-1 defeat to Fiorentina, calling the Coppa Italia “pointless.”
The Coach had already complained before the Round of 16 tie that the competition was unfairly geared towards helping the big clubs, who get to play these single knockout games on home turf.
He was sent off for dissent during today’s game after an early Juan Cuadrado penalty was incorrectly awarded.
Atalanta boss Stefano Colantuono blasted the referee after a 3-1 defeat to Fiorentina, calling the Coppa Italia “pointless.”
The Coach had already complained before the Round of 16 tie that the competition was unfairly geared towards helping the big clubs, who get to play these single knockout games on home turf.
He was sent off for dissent during today’s game after an early Juan Cuadrado penalty was incorrectly awarded.
“I don’t want to talk about that incident, as I think the footage is pretty clear,” Colantuono told reporters.
“There’s no real point saying anything else on that. Should Mario Gomez have told the referee it wasn’t a foul? I understand his position, as these things do happen in football.
“Perhaps I protested too strongly to get sent off, but that moment would’ve terminated anyone’s patience. Right in front of me Micah Richards hit Migliaccio in the face and didn’t even get a free kick.
“It’s the sort of thing that makes you think badly of people, but I don’t want to do that. We still fought to the end, conceding on our gift and another on that penalty…
“I reiterate the Coppa Italia in its current format is pointless. All the usual suspects get to the end, save for the odd rare exception. As a smaller or mid-table club, you have to focus on safety in Serie A. Changing venue might not make much difference, but this way it’s just obvious who is going to win.”