Direct call: Roma coach phones tribune for help

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.

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.''