Roma broke the Coppa Italia rules during their 4-2 defeat to Spezia on Wednesday night, having made an illegal substitute during extra-time.<\/p>\n
Roma, who fell behind two goals behind in normal time to fellow Serie A<\/a> outfit Spezia, broke the competition rules by making six substitutes instead of the allotted five.<\/p>\n Unaware that they weren\u2019t allowed to make an additional substitute in extra-time, Roma manager Paulo Fonseca replaced winger Pedro<\/a> with defender Roger Iba\u00f1ez<\/a>.<\/p>\n The offence, which took place in the fifth minute of extra-time, was a reaction to the two red cards in two minutes Roma received.<\/p>\n Having been given a second yellow card for a late challenge, Gianluca Mancini<\/a> received his marching orders.<\/p>\n From the immediate Spezia free-kick, goalkeeper Pau Lopez<\/a> rushed out, missing the ball and clattering the opposition\u2019s attacker, reducing the hosts to nine.<\/p>\n The nine men succumbed to the Spezia pressure thirteen minutes from time \u2013 ex-Roma academy player Daniele Verde<\/a> heading the side from Northern Italy into the lead.<\/p>\n Riccardo Saponara<\/a> sealed the match in the 118th<\/sup> minute, lobbing substitute<\/a> goalkeeper Daniel Fuzato<\/a> from outside the Roma box.<\/p>\n Having broke the Coppa Italia competition rules Roma would have lost the match regardless of the result after 90 minutes.<\/p>\n Spezia will travel to Naples on January 26\u00a0to face Napoli in the Coppa Italia quarter-final.<\/p>\n Fourth-placed Roma welcome Aquilotti<\/i> again on Saturday in Serie A before another home game against Hellas Verona.<\/p>\n Main Photo<\/p>\nRoma Finish the Tie With Nine<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Breaking Rules Meant Defeat Either Way for Roma<\/strong><\/h3>\n