SOCCER News: Italian icon Francesco Totti, widely expected to make headlines at these championships, found himself justifying that expectation in the most dismal manner yesterday when he received a three-match ban for spitting at the Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen during Monday's 0-0 draw in Guimares.
In effect, the ban handed down by UEFA's six-man disciplinary committee, led by Spain's Joseph Vilaseca, means Totti may take no further part in the tournament. He could play again only if Italy reach the semi-finals and if coach Giovanni Trapattoni and the Italian Federation feel it is fitting he be recalled - two very large "ifs".
During a three-hour hearing at the Meridien Hotel in Lisbon, Totti tried to limit the damage of the irrefutable TV evidence, which clearly showed him spitting at Poulsen, telling the UEFA committee: "I'm very saddened by what happened. I publicly apologise and frankly I don't recognise myself in the things you see on the TV film. I'd like people to know that the real Francesco Totti is another person, altogether."
Totti did not comment after the hearing, at which he was represented by Giulia Bongiorno, a lawyer who has successfully defended seven-times prime minister Giulio Andreotti from charges of Mafia collusion.
Although Totti was booked for an injury-time tackle on Danish defender Rene Henriksen, most critics and fans had missed the spitting; it was picked up by Danish TV, who passed it on to the Danish Federation.
Yesterday's hearing came as a direct result of a Danish Federation protest. The Italian Federation have 24 hours to appeal.
Not everyone is convinced Italy should appeal. Sports writer Gianni Mura commented in yesterday's daily La Repubblica: "Were I in the (Italian) federation's place, faced with this evidence, I would have already sent the player home without waiting for the . . . verdict."
For those of us who follow Italian football closely, this was to have been the tournament when Totti finally delivered on the international stage. This ban, however, may cast a long shadow over his career, coming as it does two years after Italy's World Cup campaign ended in ignominy with Totti being sent off in a 2-1 defeat by South Korea.
Given the quality of potential replacements - Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Cassano - it could be that this ban will cast a rather shorter shadow over Italy's Euro 2004. It could be that, as in the past, Italy will really begin to play now their backs are to the wall. Over to the Estadio Dragao in Porto.
Meanwhile, Porto midfielder Deco Souza says he is almost certain to join Chelsea.
"I have things practically resolved with the clubs," Deco (26) said. "I still have to do medical exams and sign a contract . . . which should happen after Euro 2004."
Deco is the second player from the Champions League winners set to link up with former Porto coach Jose Mourinho. Paulo Ferreira is also reported to have signed.
