Footballer sent off for ‘scraping studs on player’s head’ in shocking scenes

Shocking footage has emerged of Cittadella's captain Simone Branca raking his studs on the back of an opponent's head – causing him to be sent off.

Cittadella were involved in a heated Serie B mid-table clash with SPAL on Saturday that ended with Cittadella being reduced to nine men. And in the 96th minute, Branca shoved over Salvatore Esposito before he appeared to stomp on his head.

Branca could be seen laughing as he walked away from the incident, but that quickly disappeared when he saw the red card. It was the final action of the game that saw the full-time whistle blown at 0-0.

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One onlooker who despite being in the opposition dugout might have respected the move was former Italian star, Daniele De Rossi.

De Rossi was appointed by SPAL during the week, and he took charge of his first game on Saturday morning. The Roma legend has become the latest 2006 World Cup winner to appear in Italy's second tier.

Currently, in Serie B, Fabio Cannavaro, Filippo Inzaghi, and Fabio Grosso are in charge of Benevento, Reggina, and Frosinone respectively. While Gianluigi Buffon is still playing for boyhood club Parma.

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Branca wasn't the only Cittadella star to be handed their marching orders during the ill-tempered affair.

And just before the half-time whistle midfielder Andrea Danzi was shown his second yellow card.

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