Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi snapped and hit out at a player he had just substituted last Wednesday. It was a scene that is uncommon in football, but exposes the tension that exists on the touchline in a world that is not only sport, but also business.

It happened during the game against Novara. Fiorentina, fighting to remain in the top division, were 0-2 in arrears against a team that needed a miracle to survive the drop. Coach Rossi decides to substitute striker Adem Ljajic, believing that it was the best move to revitalise his team.

The Serbian player insulted the coach as he walked to the bench, and Delio Rossi saw red, lashing out at the player until he was restrained by Fiorentina staff. The match ended 2-2, with Fiorentina still needing a point to make sure of their place in the Serie A, while Novara were mathematically relegated.

But the touchline dispute made larger headlines the next day, as expected. And speculation of what was said by the Serbian player that pushed Rossi over the limit made the rounds, with many insinuating that Ljajic had mentioned the coach’s handicapped son to insult him.

If that was really the case, although Rossi’s reaction cannot be justified, it makes the coach’s behaviour more understandable. Who would not be offended if one’s son is insulted?

Rossi was dismissed by Fiorentina after the game; perhaps too hasty a decision seeing what allegedly sparked the confrontation. He has also been suspended for three months by the Italian Football League. Ljajic has also been asked not to train with the squad till the end of the season.

But all this is the perfect example of the exasperation that exists in the game these days, and how easy it is to lose control. The pressure that exists on all coaches and players is growing year in year out, and largely because of the money that is involved in the game. A relegation could cost millions, elimination from the lucrative competition would cost more.

Rossi has a long career in football, first as a player and then as a coach. Although he always appears nervous on the bench, he had never been involved in an incident similar to the one that happened last Wednesday. It would be a pity if he will just be remembered for doing what he did – especially if Ljajic’s insults turn out to be true.