Mexico striker Santi Giménez involved as Jose Mourinho’s assistant sent off in Roma vs Feyenoord clash

Mexico international Santi Giménez was embroiled in controversy as José Mourinho’s assistant Salvatore Froti was shown a red card in the second leg of Roma’s Europa League quarter-final clash against Eredivise leaders Feyenoord at Stadio Olimpico.

The Dutch side were leading 1-0 from the first leg in Rotterdam and therefore were therefore quite happy to take their time and break up play in the return clash between the teams in Rome. With that in mind and the score at 0-0, Giménez, finding himself out on the touchline in front of the Roma bench, rushed to stop on-loan Leeds United defender Diego Llorente from taking a quick throw-in for the Italians around 10 minutes before half-time.

What did Froti do to Giménez?

As Giménez stopped the ball from reaching Llorente’s hands after Froti had nudging it towards his player, the Roma assistant smacked him across the head twice, first with his right hand and then with his left, causing the attacker to “fall” to the ground, clutching his face before rolling around backwards and forwards, as soccer players tend to do….

Given that Froti appeared to catch him on the side and then back of his head, Giménez isn’t likely to be nominated for an Oscar any time soon, although there was no doubt that the Roma assistant had put his hands where he shouldn’t have done.

Giménez escapes punishment...but not for long

Referee Anthony Taylor was in full agreement and swiftly whipped out the red card and ordered Froti to the stands, while Llorente and Giménez’s teammate Timon Wellenreuther, who was on the Feyenoord bench, saw yellow. The Mexican managed to escape any punishment for the incident, which inevitably led to pushing and shoving between players on both sides, but was booked minutes later for a late challenge.