Marco Serra, the fourth official involved in the fiery confrontation with Jose Mourinho during Roma‘s 2-1 loss to Cremonese in Serie A, has given his version of events ahead of an appearance on Italian television Tuesday evening.
Serra is set to appear on the investigative news programme Le Iene, broadcast on the Italian network Mediaset.
Footage that emerged from the initial exchange between Serra and Mourinho on the touchline of the Stadio Olimpico appeared to show the fourth official telling the Portuguese to “go home.”
Mourinho claimed that there had been unfair treatment from the officials in the loss to La Cremo, particularly from Serra, who is originally from Turin. Mourinho was quick to point out that the Giallorossi were set to play Juventus in their following fixture.
Serra has claimed that the version of events widely circulated in the Italian Press in recent weeks is inaccurate.
The 40-year-old official has said: “I haven’t said anything that could offend Mourinho. I didn’t say those words. At that moment, I said something else.
“I said, you’re making the stadium turn against you. Go to the area, go to the area”.
Both Serra and Marco Piccinini have been suspended indefinitely by the FIGC and will not take charge of any Serie A games pending the outcome of their internal investigation. At the same time, Mourinho’s two-match ban was put on hold, so he was in the dug-out against Juventus on Sunday.
The segment due to be put out this evening is set to provide a new angle on the ongoing controversy. Serra will speak to correspondent Fillipo Roma, who will be joined by deaf lip-reading expert Giuliano Callegari.