Journalist Franco Ordine has praised Paolo Maldini for intervening when he saw Luciano Spalletti deploying a ‘custom’ that should not be allowed in football.
There was a flashpoint during AC Milan’s 4-0 win over Napoli tonight as Spalletti exchanged words with Maldini and Rafael Leao in the tunnel as the teams were about to come out for the start of the second half.
Maldini certainly had a very stern look on his face and was upset by something the Napoli boss had said or done, and he could be heard saying: “Mister, you’re nervous, but you won the league, what the f*** do you want?”
Ordine spoke during a column for MilanNews about the incident that took place in the tunnel of the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and he praised Maldini for taking a stand against Spalletti’s complaints.
“I would like to bring MilanNews’ attention back to the famous Maldini-Spalletti incident on Sunday evening for a series of good and didactic reasons,” he said.
“Firstly, because I’ve never seen Paolo Maldini as livid as on that occasion except a couple of times (one of these against Gattuso, during a match against Juventus I think).
“Second: because the dispute served to highlight an abused technique in the Italian league according to which some coaches, with the cameras off, approach the referee, formally ask for explanations regarding their decision and deep down they think of ‘influencing’ him during the second half.
“Fortunately, this ‘custom’ is expressly forbidden in the Champions League. If Spalletti were to repeat the ‘move’ he would face very severe disciplinary measures.”
Maldini is man
Maldini, provide and protect