Spitting images earn hot Totti three match ban

JUST AS his World Cup ended in shame, Italy's golden boy Francesco Totti has fallen from grace once again, this time at Euro 2004.

Shown the red card for diving in the Azzurri's shock second round defeat to South Korea two years ago, the 27-year-old striker was banned for three matches by UEFA yesterday for spitting in the face of Denmark's Christian Poulsen in Italy's first game of the tournament.

Totti will lose his starting place to Andrea Pirlo of AC Milan for today's crunch match against the Swedes in Porto and will only return if the Italians reach the semi finals.