AC Milan legend Gianni Rivera has told Roma captain Francesco Totti he should not have spoken out directly after the heated defeat to Juventus on Sunday that was littered with questionable decisions from referee Gianluca Rocchi.
The 71-year-old, who himself missed several of the Rossoneri’s Coppa Italia success whilst serving bans for criticizing the officials, believes that while he would like to see fewer mistakes every decision is open to interpretation.
“Referees make mistakes every Sunday and that’s Italian football,” Rivera told Rete Sport.
“There is always subjection, I played football too, and we will always go on hoping that there are less.
“The players should not speak post match, the pitch is a battle field, but after nothing changes. They should only speak now.
“Totti is a phenomenon from the point of view of football, but he needs to grow in terms of mentality.
“I’m not in favour of the technology during the game [like Totti], it distorts the football. It would become a video game.
The 1969 European Player of the Year does believe that Serie A is in need of change though, particularly the level of abuse at Italian stadiums currently.
“We have to change so much in football stadiums and the people who go in the stadiums,” he continued. “I have never been so insulted as in our stadiums.
“It is necessary to start with the kids, this football hurts to everyone.”
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