ROME, July 4: Italy forward Francesco Totti has asked for divine forgiveness for spitting at Denmark's Christian Poulsen at Euro 2004, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Sunday.

Totti picked up a three-match ban after being caught on camera spitting at Poulsen in Italy's opening match of the tournament. Italy were then knocked out of the tournament in the first round.

Totti turned to the Madonna of Divine Love at a famous shrine in the south of Rome. "Holy Madonna of Divine Love, I ask you to forgive me and never to leave me," read a hand-written card attached to the number 10 shirt Totti wore in the game against Denmark.

Both will be laid at the feet of the Madonna in the Sanctuary of Divine Love. "He could have made a pilgrimage in person, but he didn't want the publicity," the priest charged with delivering the card and shirt, Fernando Altieri, was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta. - Reuters