Roma thump Udinese as CEO steps down amid anger over De Rossi sacking

Roma thumped Udinese 3-0 as fans protested the shock sacking of Daniele De Rossi.

Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala and Tommaso Baldanzi gave Roma a comfortable three points against Udinese who had been surprise leaders before this weekend but drop down to third, a point behind Torino.

Now coached by Ivan Juric, Roma moved up to 10th on six points after a confident display in front of a fractious crowd at the Stadio Olimpico which was more interested in expressing anger at De Rossi's shock dismissal on Wednesday.

The match was a sideshow for the protests which will continue unless Juric's team can continue with the sort of display which earned Roma the three points on Sunday.

"The boys were very sad about Daniele being fired, they were very honest about it and I appreciated that," said Juric after the match.

Supporters hurled abuse at the team from the stands while the entire Curva Sud section of the Olimpico, where the hardcore supporters stand, was empty for the first half an hour of the match.

By the time fans started pouring into the Curva Sud Roma were ahead thanks to Dovbyk's goal, but that didn't stop loud chants of De Rossi's name ringing around the stadium.

Midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante were given particularly caustic treatment due to rumours that they had a role in De Rossi being sacked which have swept around Rome.

The anger at De Rossi's dismissal has been such that CEO Lina Souloukou, who resigned on Saturday morning, had been placed under police protection after online threats made against her and family.

A banner hung outside Roma's Trigoria training ground described Greek Souloukou, who was previously CEO of Olympiakos, as "evil".

"I'm sad for Lina Souloukou, it's not right when these things start to involve family members," added Juric.