Football, Marotta: ‘Bastoni’s gesture was unfair, but he has been pilloried by the media’

Milan, 16 February (LaPresse) – “Our position is very simple. I am here because we have noticed that the media’s response to what happened has been truly exaggerated. First and foremost, (Bastoni) has been the subject of media pillorying that goes beyond what actually happened.” This was stated by Inter president Beppe Marotta upon arriving at the Lega Calcio for today’s meeting, regarding the controversy surrounding Alessandro Bastoni’s simulation that led to the sending off of Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu in Saturday evening’s Derby d’Italia. ‘We are talking about a 26-year-old player who has played more than 300 games in Serie A, who has never been involved in any sensational incidents, a young man who is an asset to our national team. Some are even questioning his presence in the next squad, which is really not fair, it is unjust, absolutely unjust,’ he added. “We are faced with a mistake, certainly, but who has not made mistakes? When we talk about simulation, we are faced with a fact that, in my opinion, is ordinary, not extraordinary, certainly reprehensible, because it was probably exaggerated, linked to concomitant factors, because there is the arm of the Juventus player, there is an immediate whistle from the referee, all of which led to a stance being taken, a wrong decision,” Marotta pointed out.