Juventus and Inter’s Tense Rivalry Escalates After Controversial Match

omidbasir- The contentious aftermath of the Derby d’Italia has extended into the midweek preparations, with the ongoing verbal conflict between Juventus and Inter showing no sign of resolution. While Inter’s coach, Luciano Spalletti, should have been focused on his team’s critical Champions League play-off against Galatasaray, he was instead compelled to respond to allegations of unsportsmanlike behavior from the opposition. This tension was ignited by remarks from Inter’s player, Cristian Chivu, who reportedly insulted Juventus defender Kalulu in the tunnel following Kalulu’s dismissal during the match, which ended in a painful 3-2 defeat for Juventus.

Spalletti, still reeling from a loss marred by officiating controversies, took issue with Chivu’s comments, which he perceived as kicking a player when he was down. Chivu allegedly referred to Kalulu as ‘stupid’ for receiving a red card, a statement that Spalletti contends overlooks the injustices faced by his player.

“I would not have expected Kalulu to be called a fool by Chivu. He is being labeled foolish after suffering from two significant wrongs. This is unacceptable; perhaps I should also discuss the Inter players…” Spalletti stated in an interview with Sky Sport. His use of the Tuscan slang term ‘bischero’ underscored the personal nature of his frustration, suggesting that the Inter staff should reflect on their own conduct before criticizing others, especially given the contentious circumstances surrounding their victory.

The catalyst for this ongoing saga occurred in the 42nd minute at San Siro, an incident that experts are already deeming one of the season’s most significant officiating errors. With Juventus performing well, Kalulu was issued a second yellow card following an encounter with Bastoni. However, replays soon vindicated the Frenchman, revealing no substantial contact with the Inter defender. Bastoni’s dramatic fall convinced referee Federico La Penna otherwise, and due to stringent VAR protocols prohibiting intervention on yellow card offenses, the injustice remained unrectified.

Consequently, Juventus had to compete for over half the match with ten men, ultimately succumbing to a last-minute goal from Piotr Zielinski. The outcome, coupled with the manner in which it was achieved, has prompted responses from senior officials at the Allianz Stadium. In a show of solidarity, director Giorgio Chiellini and CEO Damien Comolli took to the media post-match to defend their manager and denounce the officiating.

“What transpired is unacceptable. We are here and not Luciano Spalletti for this very reason,” Chiellini remarked, indicating that the club was in open dissent against the decision. Comolli echoed this sentiment, characterizing the situation as a serious blemish on the league itself. “It was a total injustice. Juventus has lost three points, but Italian football has lost even more. The first message is for our fans – I apologize for what they witnessed. We cannot compete, win, or play under these circumstances.”

Gianluca Rocchi, Serie A’s referee designator, eventually broke his silence to acknowledge that the officiating team had erred. He confirmed Kalulu’s innocence regarding the foul but expressed frustration over the systemic limitations of VAR, particularly regarding players who exploit these rules.

“We are deeply disappointed, both with La Penna’s decision, which was clearly incorrect, and by the fact that VAR could not be utilized to correct it,” Rocchi told Ansa, validating Juventus’ grievances.

However, Rocchi did not stop at merely apologizing; he criticized the culture of simulation in Italian football, accusing players of deliberately deceiving referees for unfair advantages. “La Penna is mortified, and we sympathize with him, but I must speak the truth: he is not the only one who erred, as there was clear simulation involved. This is part of an ongoing issue in a league where players attempt to cheat the system. I believe it’s time for some self-reflection.”

While the refereeing body and Juventus express outrage over the ethical implications of the game, the Inter camp has sought to deflect criticism directed at Bastoni. Massimo Moratti, the esteemed former president of Inter, came to the player’s defense amidst a social media backlash branding Bastoni a ‘cheat.’

“Simulation is frustrating… but this instance involving Bastoni was more of an ‘enthusiastic’ simulation; he executed an impressive leap in response to the opponent’s arm,” Moratti stated on Radio Anch’io Sport. He called for leniency from Italy’s national team coach, Gennaro Gattuso, suggesting that the public backlash should serve as sufficient punishment for the player.