Roma’s hopes of securing a place in next season’s Champions League suffered a blow yesterday as experienced pair Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta were banned for the rest of the season.

Both were sent off during Sunday’s dramatic late 3-2 victory at Bari for violent conduct and have been handed a three-game suspension, the same number of matches remaining in this campaign.

De Rossi was red-carded for a vicious elbow to Simone Bentivoglio’s face while Perrotta was deemed to have punched an opponent in the back, although TV images suggested it was not very forceful.

Roma trail city rivals Lazio by one point in the race for fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying spot.

Meanwhile, Lecce forward David Di Michele has been banned for three games after video evidence was used to show he struck an opponent.

The Italian body charged with applying sporting justice used pictures from Sky TV to sanction the former West Ham player for hitting Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar.

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