Italian Official gets smacked upside the head

During yesterday’s 1-1 draw between Lazio and Torni, brilliantly-named referee Massimiliano Saccani found was given an excellent reason to avoid standing between a shooting player and the goal in future. The ref was knocked out by the strike, but after a quick dab with the magic sponge, was able to continue in the game.

Lazio’s left back Aleksandar Kolarov should be grateful that his shot struck the ref’s temple - it looks like it was heading into row Z.

Note: Does anyone know why the ref is dressed in black, and not the day-glo yellow outfits the officials sported in the Milan derby last night?

[Video: Off The Post]

Catania create a goal by displaying their fabulous underwear

Torino visited Sicilian Serie A side Catania on Sunday, and became of the first victims of a stunt that would be better suited on the playground. In order to block the goalkeeper’s view of a free kick, three Catania players, including de-robed forward Gianvito Plasmati in the picture above, dropped their keks around their knees. The trick worked brilliantly, as Giuseppe Mascara’s free kick sailed past keeper Matteo Sereni to secure to 3-2 victory for the home side:

“This is a strategy that (Catania coach Walter) Zenga tries continually in training,” the club’s chief executive Pietro Lo Monaco told RAI state radio yesterday.

Former referees coordinator Paolo Casarin called the move “unsportsmanlike and in bad taste.

“It’s a trick that should not be tolerated anymore by the referees,” Casarin said.

Lo Monaco responded: “A trick? I wouldn’t say so. It’s up to the re­fe­ree to decide if it should be pena­lised, otherwise I don’t see where the problem is … Good taste is relative.”

Good work fellas, if a little unsporting. Check out video highlights of the match after il jumpo…

Italy continues to supply the best WAGs on the planet

Today’s WAG of the Day is another graduate of crazy Italian television show Striscia la notizia (‘Strip the News’) - a programme which has also blessed us with footballer eye candy including Melissa Satta and my favorutie WAG of the Day, Giorgia Palmas. Twenty-five-year-old Italian Elena Barola has stepped out with Filippo Inzaghi (who also imposed huge bank balance and status wonderful personality on Aída Yéspica) and more recently, she has been seen on the arm of Torino striker Roberto Stellone.

Look Ronaldo - Rio has actual females, too

Former Crystal Palace and current Torino FC striker Nicola Ventola may have a girl’s name and a distinct lack of international appearances on his CV (bar a visit to Sydney for the 2000 summer games), but he has done mighty well in the WAG department. Depending on who you believe, he may or may not be married to Brazilian model Kartika Luyet, but one thing is for certain - Ventola is the father of their four-year-old son Kelian.