Salernitana director Walter Sabatini, who spent many years at Roma, blasted ‘ignoble behaviour’ from the Giallorossi players and staff, mocked Jose Mourinho and complained at refereeing decisions.
“With all due respect for Roma, I have to say that what I see here is ignoble behaviour on a sporting level. What happens on the pitch when we come here to play Roma is absolutely unacceptable,” Sabatini told DAZN after a 2-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.
“With every refereeing decision, everyone pours onto the pitch from the bench, it’s unjustifiable. What do you want the referees to do in those circumstances? They invert free kicks.
“The referee didn’t even go to see the penalty on Milan Djuric. I know we can lose to Roma, but not like this.”
The Giallorossi were also furious with the referee over two first half penalty calls, one that VAR did not recommend for an on-field review, another that was awarded only to be revoked because the original contact was outside the box.
It was a surprisingly tense affair at the Stadio Olimpico, with clashes on the touchline that prompted Mourinho to later apologise to Davide Nicola and his staff.
It was another ugly scene just days after Bodo/Glimt accused goalkeeping trainer Nuno Gomes of attacking their coach following the Conference League quarter-final.
“I apologise to Mourinho just for naming him, because I will never reach his level,” Sabatini replied sarcastically.
“I know full well as soon as he hears this he will say I’ve never won anything and therefore cannot speak, but the fact remains I am really p***ed off. I love my club, we want to stay in Serie A and have every right to decorous treatment.
“I have not won 25 trophies, but I am a serious person and deserve respect nonetheless. I see arrogance and different levels of treatment.
“The free kick from which Roma scored the winner should’ve been in our favour. The Roma bench is up in arms screaming even for a throw-in.
“Referees are by their very nature bland personalities, so they are easily swayed into changing their decisions.”
.@OfficialUSS1919, le parole di #Sabatini dopo la sconfitta con la @OfficialASRoma https://t.co/nCU6u21QKZ
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) April 10, 2022