The coach of Steaua Bucharest resigned yesterday in protest at the club president’s public criticism of his decisions. Victor Piturca, 54, who coached Romania twice over the past decade, had only been appointed Steaua manager at the start of the season.

On accepting the job, one of his conditions was that the club’s boss Gigi Becali does not criticise publicly the players or the fans.

As a “guarantee”, he asked for a plot of land worth €10 million euros, Becali said.

“I offered to double his pay, but what he wants is a guarantee that I keep my mouth shut,” Becali told reporters.

“However, if I don’t speak, I’ll get tongue cancer,” he added, jokingly.

Hot-headed Becali has fired a dozen coaches over the past few years. This former shepherd turned millionaire has been indicted in two cases of graft and kidnapping and fined several times for “racist” statements.