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FOOTBALL

Totti branded 'Pinocchio' amid Roma penalty storm

Roma great Francesco Totti has been criticised by Cesena for claiming their stoppage-time penalty was deserved.

Update:
AS Roma's Francesco Totti looks on before the match
GIORGIO PEROTTINOREUTERS

Francesco Totti has been compared to Pinocchio by Cesena president Giorgio Lugaresi as the controversy over their Coppa Italia quarter-final rages on.

The Roma legend scored a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time as his side salvaged a 2-1 victory over their Serie B opponents on Wednesday to book a semi-final tie against city rivals Lazio.

Totti's spot-kick was awarded after goalkeeper Federico Agliardi was ruled to have fouled Kevin Strootman in the area.

Cesena were fuming with the decision, which denied them extra-time and the chance of a historic upset at Stadio Olimpico.

Totti scores the penalty that would givew Roma a very lat 2-1 win.
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Totti scores the penalty that would givew Roma a very lat 2-1 win.ETTORE FERRARIEFE

And Lugaresi was then unhappy to see Totti go on to state his agreement with referee Fabio Maresca's decision in a post-match interview.

Cesena president takes to social media

"Last night after the game, live, Totti said the penalty against Cesena was clear!" the president wrote on Facebook.

"That is a nonsense. It was only a few seconds later that I realised the great Francesco was just trying out a new advertising spot where he plays - in this case rather well - Pinocchio!"

Totti, 40, had told Rai Sport after the game: "I thought it was an obvious foul for the penalty. Kevin Strootman anticipated the goalkeeper and was knocked down."