UEFA investigate Totti over spitting

UEFA will investigate a Danish complaint that Italian playmaker Francesco Totti repeatedly spat at Denmark's Christian Poulsen in their Euro 2004 0-0 draw.

Television footage on Danish DR1 News showed one incident during Monday's Group C game (Web site http://www.dr.dk/sporten/em2004/article.jhtml?articleID=177789) on Wednesday.

"We have received a complaint from the Danish FA and we are looking at the video evidence now and will decide this afternoon whether to open a case for the disciplinary committee to consider," a UEFA spokesman said.

He said UEFA would issue a statement later on Wednesday.

The Danish Football Association (DBU) said in a statement that "Totti on several occasions, unprovoked, spat in Poulsen's face."

"That is now clearly proved by television footage and still pictures from the match," said DBU, adding that UEFA already had talked to Poulsen about the incident.

"Totti was running around spitting at Christian Poulsen. That's just not on," Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen told tabloid BT.

In November Sinisa Mihajlovic of Lazio was suspended for eight matches by UEFA's disciplinary committee after being sent off against Chelsea in a Champions League match.

He spat at and kicked Chelsea players during his side's 4-0 home defeat and was also guilty of "improper conduct" towards a UEFA official after being sent off for two bookable offences.

Totti was booked in injury time of Monday's match for a high tackle on Danish defender Rene Henriksen.

Soccer players regard spitting as one of the most disrespectful actions possible by an opposing player.

At the 1990 World Cup, Dutchman Frank Rijkaard spat at Rudi Voeller, now the Germany coach, in an infamous incident constantly replayed on television.

Italy's next Group C game is against Sweden on Friday.