Supporters and pundits are calling for Alessandro Bastoni to be excluded from the Italy national team after his simulation led to an unjust red card in the Derby d’Italia.
Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni is facing a fierce backlash following his role in the controversial dismissal of Pierre Kalulu during Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Juventus.
Replays showed Bastoni simulated contact to earn Kalulu a second yellow card, an act branded as “anti-sportsmanship” by critics.
With Italy currently preparing for crucial World Cup play-offs in March, a growing number of fans and reporters have voiced that Bastoni’s actions do not align with the values of the national shirt.
The controversy has reached a boiling point just as Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso finalizes his 50-man radar for the upcoming semi-final against Northern Ireland.
Pundit Alessandro Jacobone urged Gattuso to “leave him at home,” while TMW’s Luca Calamai questioned if such a player deserves to represent Italy on the global stage.
As the federation and coaching staff weigh the outcry, the incident has overshadowed Inter’s derby win and cast doubt on the defender’s standing within the Azzurri setup.