AMSTERDAM – Roma defender Riccardo Calafiori says he understands the irritation of a ballboy who hurled the ball at him in the closing stages of Thursday’s Europa League tie at Ajax Amsterdam, causing a social media stir.
The ball struck Calafiori in the neck as he ambled over to take a throw-in at the Johan Cruyff Arena near the end of the quarter-final first leg which Roma won 2-1 after being down at halftime.
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“I was thinking about a lot of things at that moment,” said the 18-year-old substitute, who briefly confronted the ballboy and received a caution from the referee.
Ajax ballboy ain’t got time for thispic.twitter.com/ngfDUU05IE
— Ronan Mullen (@RonanReigns) April 8, 2021
“Fortunately, I managed to stay calm. I have to admit that it would also have irritated me if I saw an opponent time wasting in such a situation. I don’t say I respect it, but I get it,” he told Italy’s Sky TV.