Totti Should Be Heavily Punished for His Attack on Balotelli

It is vital for the future of the game that when such unsavoury incidents occur, like what happened in the Coppa Italia final, the responsible parties are properly dealt with. In the incident that occurred between Roma and Inter in the Coppa Italia final, Roma legend Francesco Totti committed the most malicious and dangerous of tackles on Inter's young star Mario Balotelli.

As the video below shows, Totti knew exactly what he was doing. Such a tackle is the kind that can end a player's career. For this reason, Totti should be severely punished. How such a notable and respected player, like Totti, could commit such a horrific offence is mystifying and does much harm to the game of football.

Totti is one of the more recognised footballers of today. Millions of young football hopefuls and fans from around the world look up to such a player, who has achieved so much and for the most part has done so in an amicable fashion. Such a player, therefore, has a greater responsibility than most of his peers in ensuring the game of football and its reputation remains intact.

Therefore, there is all the more reason that Totti should be made an example of. He should be punished heavily. He should, at the very least, be handed a lengthy ban from football, maybe including one that will force him to miss the World Cup. For only such a punishment will make him regret about committing such an offense and will make him think twice before doing so again.

If such a punishment was awarded, not only would it force Totti to think twice before doing it again, but most of his peers will also think twice too. And this is the message that needs to be sent out to his peers. It is absolutely crucial that this message is sent out, and only if a harsh punishment is handed out will the point be made.

If Totti gets off relatively light, then the game's authorities will have done football no favours at all. In fact, they will have done it a disservice.