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Fiorentina boss fired for player slap

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Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 11:06 AM
Source: SportsFan

By Adam Jones

The manager of Italian football club Fiorentina, Delio Rossi, has been fired for attacking one of his own players during a clash with Serie A rivals Novara.

Rossi launched himself into the dugout to slap striker Adem Ljajic and appeared to be winding up a punch before being restrained by assistants.

The Serbian forward drew his manager's ire for sarcastically applauding the decision to substitute him in 32nd minute.

Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle announced the club had parted ways with Rossi immediately following the match, saying: "I spoke with him and he's prepared to apologise, but this was a choice that had to be made."

"It's a choice I should never have had to make, but there is no justification for Delio Rossi's actions. The firing is for his well being. He's a great person."

Rossi took over from former manager Sinisa Mihajlovic in November but was unable to turn around Fiorentina's run of poor results in his time.

They sit 15th on the table and six points clear of the relegation places with two games to play.

Watch the dugout scrap that led to Rossi's firing:


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