Roma chief blames ref for defeat

AS Roma president Rosella Sensi hit out at referee Roberto Rosetti after her team were beaten 2-1 at AC Milan, in no small part thanks to a controversial penalty.

The visitors to the San Siro led 1-0 after a swashbuckling first-half performance but that all changed when Rosetti awarded Milan a penalty after Alessandro Nesta tumbled in the box.

Television replays showed Nicolas Burdisso won the ball, even though he did challenge Nesta from behind and the former Italy centre-back’s subsequent fall was clearly exaggerated, if even completely unnecessary.

Roma’s players were fuming about the penalty, dispatched by Ronaldinho, and after Pato’s winner Sensi’s mood was even darker.

“While Rosetti is an excellent international referee, he makes too many mistakes with Roma,” said Sensi.

“I demand respect be shown to our team and our fans. We’ve already lost one title at the San Siro with Rosetti in charge.

“I’m very angry about the unfair epilopgue of a match my lads deserved to win.”

Rosetti has been a Serie A referee since 1996 and officiated the 2008 European Championships final between Spain and Germany while he has been pre-selected for next year’s World Cup.