Ranieri criticizes Vieira over De Rossi injury

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri has criticized Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira after an elbow by the Frenchman left Daniele De Rossi with a fractured cheekbone in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at the San Siro.

The Giallorossi departed the San Siro with a point, leaving them 13th in Serie A, but with a cloud of uncertainty over their Italy midfielder who is almost certain to miss the Azzurri’s friendly against Holland on Saturday.

“De Rossi will have to undergo an operation,” Ranieri said.

“Vieira always jumps with his elbows open and for that reason in England he was always sent off.”

Vieira played with Arsenal in the Premier League before moving to Italy in the summer of 2005.

Ranieri disapproved of the performance of referee Gianluca Rocchi, who did not book Vieira and showed just three yellow cards to Inter players.

“Inter made too many systematic fouls and if the referee allows them to get away with it, then they continue to make them,” the former Chelsea and Juventus boss said.

“They made double the fouls we made and got just one more yellow card than we did.”