Referees continue to make headlines in Italy for controversial decisions. On Sunday, Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni was sent to the stands for vehemently protesting refereePiero Giacomelli’s failure to award a penalty when Davide Astori brought Andrea Ranocchia down in the box. Though an irate Inter promisedafterwards not to speak to the press, President Massimo Moratti could not help himself and broke the club’s silence on Monday.
“I do not like the attitude of thereferees and they stopped us from getting the result today,” Moratti said. “I cannot just stay silent as I have to point out the injustice.” He added: “The penalty was as clearas day. There are certain pundits who try to save face by pretending it wasn’t a penalty. But if that wasn’t a penalty then I don’t know what is.”
Moratti also alluded to the 2006Cacliopoli scandal, when various Serie A clubs were found guilty of game-fixing, Juventus receiving the harshest punishment. In response to Moratti’s veiled dig at the club, Juve posted anofficial statement that read “No Comment,” with a file attached that outlined the Italian soccer federation’s (FIGC) ruling that Inter had also been involved in the Calciopoliscandal.