Direct call: Roma coach phones tribune for help

Direct call: Roma coach phones tribune for help

Published Aug. 25, 2013 6:25 p.m. ET

Was he ordering a pizza? Or perhaps simply checking in with his family at home?

It was a curious moment when new Roma coach Rudi Garcia was seen talking on his cell phone as he sat on the bench during the first half of a 2-0 win over Livorno in his Italian league debut Sunday.

Afterward, Garcia explained that he was simply talking with an assistant coach up in the tribune, a habit he developed with Lille in the French league.

However, the call could be judged as a breach of Serie A rules and earn the Frenchman a fine.

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Garcia says he used his phone because a two-way radio wasn't working.

Told of the rules, he said ''Well then it seems it's different here from France.''

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