Italy Coach Marcello Lippi Will Not Call Up Roma's Francesco Totti

Posted Saturday, May 08, 2010 by Goal.com

Reports claim Totti will be snubbed.

Roma World Cup hopeful Francesco Totti is set to miss out on Italy's South Africa adventure as Marcello Lippi has already decided he will snub him, according to Il Messaggero.

Totti has come under heavy scrutiny this week after lashing out at Inter striker Mario Balotelli in Wednesday's Coppa Italia final.

The Lupi man kicked out at Balotelli to earn a red card, and later claimed he was provoked by the youngster, who hit back in saying Totti made racial remarks.

Lippi was at the Stadio Olimpico and witnessed the controversy unfold first hand.

But this is not the reason why he will leave Totti behind. Lippi has made the decision based on technical choices, feeling he doesn't need him. And it is said Totti already knows he will not be going.

'Er Pupone' had talked of his availability to come out of the international wilderness after leaving the Azzurri in 2006. And although Lippi said everyone would know Totti's fate on May 11 when he picks his preliminary Italy squad, his list is likely to have a cross by his name.

Meanwhile, president of the Italian republic Giorgio Napolitano has condemned Totti's kick.

The head of state told La Repubblica: "Clubs need to do more about curbing violence in football, and Totti's actions fall into that category, what he did was rash."