Roma director Tiago Pinto stands up for Jose Mourinho after the row over the referee in their Sassuolo match. ‘If we don’t talk to the media, they fine us. If we say something they don’t like, we are investigated.’
It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium at 17.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action from today’s five Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
The controversy already started yesterday with Mourinho’s press conference, as he said that Roma were ‘worried’ that referee Matteo Marcenaro had been appointed to this fixture, claiming this official does not have the ‘emotional stability’ to deal with the game at this level.
It prompted an angry response from the AIA (Italian Referees’ Association) and the FIGC prosecutor has opened an investigation to see if Mourinho warrants a fine or ban.
“This is an important issue for me, because I always try to be calm and not fuel the fire, but there came a time when we had to say enough,” director of sport Tiago Pinto told DAZN.
“We have not received any news from the prosecutor that we are under investigation, but I hope for some common sense. In these 14 Serie A rounds this season, we saw some behaviour from coaches and staff on the touchline that has been far worse than Roma, but nothing happened.
“I also saw people before a game musing on the referee that was assigned to them and nobody did anything there either.”
It is strange because Marcenaro has never actually officiated a Roma match, but he was the fourth official and that is how he got on Mourinho’s bad side.
“What Mourinho said was that we have a referee who has never officiated us before, but we had him three times as a fourth official and he always sent people off from the touchline. It was not an insult,” added Tiago Pinto.
“If we don’t come and talk to the media, they fine us. If we do come here and say something they don’t like, then we are investigated. I don’t understand it, to be honest.
“There are some people in Italy who if they comment on one person’s statement, they get three stories out of it. If they comment on Mourinho’s statement, they get 300 stories. If the coach cannot say he is worried at the emotional stability of the referee, then I don’t know what he can say.”
Roma are struggling with injuries in defence now, as Chris Smalling seems no closer to a comeback after months out, so will there be reinforcements in the January transfer window?
“We have five centre-backs in the squad, two are long-term injured, plus Smalling we don’t know when he will return. Ndicka is likely going to the Africa Cup of Nations, so it’s obvious that we are short-staffed there.”
Will Roma sign someone in January?
“We hope so.”