Why Jose Mourinho's assistant has been banned for a month after AS Roma's defeat to Cremonese

Jose Mourinho's assistant, Salvatore Foti, has been banned for a month following AS Roma's shock defeat to Cremonese.

Roma suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Cremonese, who are bottom of Serie A, in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Itallia on Wednesday.

Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring from the spot to give the visitors the lead. Mehmet Zeki Celik then put through his own goal just after the break to make it 2-0.

Andrea Belotti pulled one back late on as the Giallorossi were dumped out of the competition.

Mourinho's assistant lost his head as a result of the defeat as he aimed an explosive rant towards the match officials.

Salvatore Foti on the touchline for an AS Roma match. Image: Alamy

The Italian Football Federation has confirmed Foti has been sanctioned for 'repeated offensive expressions' towards the match referee Michael Fabbri.

He was also noted to have used 'threatening sentences towards a manager of the opposing team' and 'repeated blasphemous expressions' following his red card.

The 34-year-old also went to Fabbri's dressing room after the match, where he continued to slam the referee's performance as he made 'further offensive expressions in a threatening tone'.

The former Chelsea, Man United and Tottenham boss will be without his No.2 for Serie A games against Empoli, Lecce, Verona and a league match against Cremonese.

Fitness coach Stefano Rapetti was also banned for one month.

Foti, who joined Mourinho's backroom staff in 2022, is no stranger to landing himself in hot water as Mourinho had to apologise for his assistant's outburst last year.

He mocked Salernitana and told a member of their staff they would soon be relegated.

Roma, who are placed sixth in the table with 37 points on the board, resume their league campaign against Empoli on Saturday.