Roma forfeit Hellas Verona match after player age mix-up

September 23 – Serie A club Roma have been penalised with a 3-0 defeat following an administrative error in the make-up of their matchday squad in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Hellas Verona.

Roma listed 23-year-old Amadou Diawara (pictured) in the under-22 section of their squad, rather than the 25-man squad list for senior players. Guinea international Diawara, who turned 23 in July, played 89 minutes in the Serie A stalemate.

“Roma have employed a player not registered in the 25-man squad communicated by certified email on September 14, 2020, despite having become over 22,” a Lega Serie A statement read following the ruling by sporting judge Gerardo Mastrandrea.

“[Serie A] resolves to sanction Roma with the sporting punishment of the loss of the game with a 0-3 score.”

Roma have admitted the error but argued that when their squad list was submitted, the system should have signalled an error given Diawara’s age.

They have announced they will appeal though local reports say it is unlikely to succeed.

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