14 June 2024 , 15:10
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Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma says his side have a plan to combat UEFA's new rule for Euro 2024.
Referee chiefs are determined to clamp down on poor player behaviour in Germany, and are insisting that only captains should be able to speak to match officials during pauses in play.
A UEFA statement read: "Explaining a decision with up to 22 players mobbing you is impossible for a referee. It can lead to a breakdown in communication, with the beautiful game turning very ugly very quickly, which, everyone agrees, is bad for the image of football.
"We ask that all teams ensure their captain is the only player who speaks to the referee. We ask the captains to ensure their teammates do not encroach upon and surround the referee, allowing direct conversations to take place in order that the decision be relayed in a timely and respectful manner."
All countries competing at the tournament have agreed to attempt to improve player behaviour, but UEFA's new plan does create something of an issue for countries who have their goalkeeper as their captain, a role Donnarumma has recently been appointed to with Italy.
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However, when discussing the new laws ahead of his side's match with Albania in Dortmund on Saturday, the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper said that the Azzurri have already hatched a plan.
“We spoke to [UEFA referees chief] Roberto Rossetti and it was very clear," said Donnarumma.
UEFA want to clamp down on players surrounding referees (Getty Images)"When there are situations near the penalty area then I will go across and speak to the match officials, but before games we will decide as to who is going to speak to the referees for situations far from the penalty area. It might be Jorginho or Nicolo Barella, we’ll decide just before kick-off.”
Inter Milan midfielder Barella is expected to overcome a muscle injury scare to feature for Italy in Dortmund, with coach Luciano Spalletti confirming that he had trained as normal.
Nicolo Barella has been passed fit by Luciano Spalletti (AFP via Getty Images)"Yesterday he did everything in training. He will participate in training matches later today and we'll take that into consideration," he said. "And we'll wait on how he feels because he's had a similar problem in the past.
"However, everything we saw yesterday evening suggests that he will be available tomorrow."