A youth coach in Italy was sacked after his side won 27-0 on Saturday as the president of the club criticised him for disrespecting the team’s opponents.
U-18 side Invictasauro, based in the Grosseto region of Tuscany, faced Marina Calcio and racked up the huge scoreline, only for coach Massimiliano Riccini to lose his job afterwards.
Tiberio Pratesi, the sporting director of bottom side Marina Calcio, complained after the match that league leaders Invictasauro had disrespected his side. Marina Calcio suffered from a string of injury problems and had to field an outfield player in goal for the match, which featured two Invictasauro players scoring six goals each, and one netting seven.
Pratesi received a phone call from a representative of Invictasauro after the match in which the club apologised for the result.
Paolo Brogelli, the president of Invictasauro, released a statement and said the junior team decided to part ways with coach Riccini.
“We were stunned and deeply regretful when hearing that our Junioresteam had beaten Marina Calcio 27-0,” President Brogelli said in a statement.
“The values of youth team football are antithetical to such a thing. The opponent must always be respected and that did not happen today.
“As president, I sincerely apologise to the Marina club. I announce that our directors decided unanimously to sack coach Riccini.
“Our coaches have the duty to train young players, but above all to educate them. That did not happen today.”