Week 15, Or: It’s Rosetti’s Fault Yet Again

By: Martha | December 11th, 2006

Kill Rosetti! Hmm, Roberto Rosetti. Where have we heard that name before? Oh yeah, he was the referee Palermo chairman Maurizio Zamparini accused of corruption after his team’s loss to Inter back in November. And now he’s in the news again, this time as the object of a post-match Francesco Totti broadside: In the wake of his team’s demoralizing loss in the Rome derby last night, Totti didn’t exactly call Rosetti corrupt, but he left the door wide open for others to draw that conclusion. Was it Rosetti who scored that first goal, then? Or who took the Lazio player down in the box? I must have been watching the wrong game. And, really, cut on his thigh or not, Totti — of whom I happen to be a huge fan — was lucky not to be sent off for kicking Luciano Zauri while he was on the ground. Twice.

Refreshingly, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti seems to have confined his remarks to the team’s actual performance (disappointing), and their Scudetto chances (still there), rather than deciding to pretend the loss was someone else’s fault. As a former coach (What? High school is just like Serie A!), nothing makes me more angry than hearing athletes and coaches blame referees for losses. I mean, shut up and take some damn responsibility! So, full marks to Spalletti for the day.

The full results from the weekend are after the jump.

Atalanta - Messina 3-2: Go Atalanta! Ok, so they very nearly blew it, but still — they’re only three points from a Champions League spot, which seems almost inconceivable.
Cagliari - Parma 0-0
Catania - Udinese 1-0: Speaking of inconceivable: Don’t look now, but little, just-promoted Catania are FOURTH IN THE TABLE.
Chievo - Fiorentina 0-1
Empoli - Inter 0-3
Lazio - Roma 3-0
Milan - Torino 0-0: Sigh. Two more dropped points. Oh, and a missed penalty. Super.
Palermo - Livorno 3-0
Reggina - Ascoli 2-1: For those of you playing along, that’s 15 weeks and still no wins for Ascoli. How much longer before coach #2 is sacked?
Sampdoria - Siena 0-0

So the gap behind Inter continues to grow, while Roma slide back towards the tiny pack: Inter are now seven points clear, while Roma, on 32, are only a point up on Palermo. Who, I may have mentioned, they face at home next weekend. After Palermo there’s yet another gap, with Catania (23), Lazio (21), Atalanta (20) and Livorno (20) all dreaming of that fourth Champions League slot. And how great would it be for football if one of those tiny, never-been-in-Europe-before teams gets in? Even if it’s just for a few games, that club will be living an absolute dream. Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, Ascoli have yet to awaken from their season-long nightmare. I think we need to organize a prayer circle, or something — it’s that bad.