Daniele De Rossi is sent off for slapping a Genoa defender during heated Serie A Clash
The Roma captain saw red in the 70th minute and slapped GianLuca Lapadula before theatrically diving to the floor himself, feigning an injury.
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DANIELE DE ROSSI let his Italian emotions get the better of him and saw red during a Serie A clash against Genoa.
Roma's captain was keen to get the better of his defender, GianLuca Lapadula, so decided the best way to stop him was deliver a slap to the face and then dive as if he was the one on the receiving end of the hit.
The 34-year-old then felt the full force of the video technology, after the referee referred to it to punish him.
De Rossi's moment of madness led to his side drawing the fixture and ruined Roma's run of victories away from home.
Roma faced Genoa in an incredibly heated match, but De Rossi's temper could not be contained, yet again, and allowed Lapadula to equalise in the 70th minute.
BONG HIT Premier League star wildly swings his boots between defender's legs
De Rossi has since apologised for the incident which saw him receive a red card, he said: "There are no excuses. I have to say sorry to the players, the coach and the fans."
Roma's coach Eusebio Di Francesco slapped De Rossi with criticism calling the actions 'naive', he also said: "The naivety is that nobody escapes the VAR."
The altercation began as De Rossi grabbed Lapadula's shirt shirt inside the box, gave him a shove, and then delivered and blow with his right hand.
Farcically, De Rossi then theatrically dives to the floor- without receiving a blow from his player.
He then rolls on the floor clutching his face.
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Social media users were calling for the player to 'grow up' as he has been a troublemaker for the side before.
His coach Di Francesco was less than impressed and said: "He's not a kid, especially when he's the leader, we have to be able to control the game without giving anything in front of our goal."
This weekend saw plenty of action inside the box, as Arsenal were awarded a controversial penalty for Aaron Ramsey being taken down inside the box and Romelu Lukaku wildly swinging his left boot between the legs of a Brighton defender.