Ref Nicola Rizzoli slammed for ‘bottling’ Gareth Bale sending off which could have prevented Seamus Coleman leg break
Italian official was also in charge when Luke Shaw broke his leg last year and failed to book the culprit
SERIOUS questions are being asked of Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli in the aftermath of Seamus Coleman's horrific double leg break.
Fans believe the career-threatening injury could have been prevented had Rizzoli not bottled the chance to send Gareth Bale off moments earlier.
The Real Madrid star escaped with just a yellow card following a dangerously high tackle on Ireland's John O'Shea midway through the second half.
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Bale's studs went straight into O'Shea's standing leg which left the Sunderland man requiring stitches - although it could have been a lot worse for the veteran.
And fans are suggesting that Neil Taylor wouldn't have flown in on the Everton right-back had Bale been shown a red card earlier in the clash.
Rizzoli, who has been crowned Serie A's Referee of the Year for six consecutive seasons, was also in charge of the game when Manchester United's Luke Shaw saw his leg shattered in 2015.
In a European clash against PSV Eindhoven, Mexico defender Hector Moreno wasn't even shown a booking for his heavy tackle on Shaw.
What's more is that Moreno went and headed the equaliser in United's 2-1 defeat.