Soccer coach punches his own player

This happened in the Italian top flight, the Serie A, during a match between Fiorentina and Novara. The game ended 2-2 but that is not important.

The drama took place on the half hour mark when Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi, a very experienced and respected professional, decided to replace young Serbian player Adem Ljajic because he thought he was playing badly and not respecting his tactical tasks.

The player came out, ironically applauded his coach and appeared to say something to him. That's when the coach totally lost is and...

The coach was sacked by the club after the match and he said that he apologises to the club, team and fans. But not to Ljajic. In fact, most of the fans took the coach's side.

Unconfirmed reports claim that Ljajic said something really terrible to trigger Rossi's reaction. Coach Rossi has a son that has the Down syndrome. Apparently Ljajic said to Rossi, while coming off the pitch, that he is more handicapped than his son.

For me seeing coach Rossi wild and mad like that was quite a surprise because I've been following him for years and he never ever did something out of the ordinary politeness rules. So I guess Ljajic did say something really out of the ordinary to trigger such a reaction. What do you think?

It must have hit him right in the heart for a reaction like that.  The player was out of order and perhaps he should have been sacked rather than the coach.  I'm not condoning the violence but you can understand why he reacted in that way.

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It must have hit him right in the heart for a reaction like that.  The player was out of order and perhaps he should have been sacked rather than the coach.  I'm not condoning the violence but you can understand why he reacted in that way.

 

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It's much more expensive to sack a player than a coach, players have much bigger and better contracts than coaches.

It must have hit him right in the heart for a reaction like that.  The player was out of order and perhaps he should have been sacked rather than the coach.  I'm not condoning the violence but you can understand why he reacted in that way.

 

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It's much more expensive to sack a player than a coach, players have much bigger and better contracts than coaches.

True.  What was the player thinking when he said that.  I guess he was just lashing out because he was taken off the pitch.  It's quite a sad story all round.

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Rossi doesn't have a son that has the Down syndrome. Rossi claimed that Ljajic insulted his mother and Ljajic denies that, "But I repeat, I made a mistake, but my provocation was limited to an applause and the phrase ‘bravo maestro, really, you’re great’."

But I doubt he didn't swear, it's almost like a part of a everyday conversation for most people. It shouldn't be taken seriously and since Rossi coached some Serbian players he should know that.  

I don't want to justify Ljajic because I know how Serbian football players act; it's like they own the world.

I'm pretty sure that he has that son Markotik. However, it is still unclear whether Ljajic said something like that or not. Other newspapers claim that Ljajic said something like this: "Was it your wife who suggested this substitution?".

Anyway, those are just rumours but I repeat that I find it unbelievable that an experienced coach like Rossi reacted like that. What is certain is that Rossi revealed that his reaction had something to do with his family, suggesting that Ljajic did say something along those lines.

And about Serbian players, there are a few troublemakers indeed but I also know Serbian players that are model professionals so I wouldn't make a general judgement on that.

And about Serbian players, there are a few troublemakers indeed but I also know Serbian players that are model professionals so I wouldn't make a general judgement on that.

Yes, of course, there are some great sportsmen, that's for sure. It depends on how successful and accomplished  they are, or feel.