Moratti Addresses Controversial Moments in Derby d’Italia

omidbasir- Former Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti has expressed his candid views on the controversies surrounding the recent Derby d’Italia, particularly criticizing Juventus for their reaction while also addressing the actions of Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni. Replays indicated that Bastoni made no contact with an opposing player, yet the referee issued a second yellow card in the 42nd minute, resulting in Inter playing with ten men for the majority of the match, which was tied at 1-1.

Inter managed to take the lead through Francesco Pio Esposito in the second half. However, Juventus equalized in the 83rd minute, only for Piotr Zielinski to score a dramatic winner in the 90th minute, re-establishing Inter’s eight-point lead at the top of Serie A. This defeat left Juventus in fifth place, prompting an outcry from the away team, who pointed to Kalulu’s controversial dismissal as the pivotal moment that shifted the match in Inter’s favor.

Moratti remarked, “Now Juve are complaining; they are playing the victim, and they are certainly a victim of a new event. They seem to be exaggerating their protests, portraying themselves as tragic victims of Italian football, but history does not reflect them that way.” While recognizing that Kalulu’s red card was severe, he criticized the narrative emerging from Juventus’s camp.

He elaborated, “Simulations are bothersome, especially when players feign injury. Bastoni’s action was an ‘enthusiastic’ simulation; he exaggerated the impact of an opponent’s arm. Kalulu’s extension of his arm led to Bastoni’s reaction, which turned into an injustice, as Kalulu did not foul him, and Bastoni should face some consequences for his simulation. VAR has complicated the game, creating a false sense of certainty in judgments.”

Despite acknowledging the unnecessary nature of Bastoni’s theatrics, Moratti defended the defender against the wave of personal attacks and social media abuse he has faced. There have even been calls for national team coach Gennaro Gattuso to exclude Bastoni from upcoming matches, but Moratti believes the backlash is punishment enough.

“I don’t think Gattuso should penalize Bastoni further. The criticism he has received is already a significant burden. I hope this situation resolves quickly, and he is not forever remembered for this incident. Mistakes happen, and we should move on.”

When asked if the club would take any disciplinary action against Bastoni, Moratti stated, “That depends on the dynamics between the coach and the player. Publicly, a coach might defend a player, but privately, he may advise caution. My approach would vary based on the individual player and circumstances.”

The incident has reignited discussions regarding VAR’s limitations, as the technology could not intervene in issuing a second yellow card, leaving referee Federico La Penna’s decision unchallenged. This led to referee designator Gianluca Rocchi also critiquing the official’s performance during what has been labeled a