Inter fear Bastoni chaos sparked controversial referee decisions

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter President Beppe Marotta and director Piero Ausilio politely confronted the referee after a 1-1 draw against Atalanta on Saturday, but the club fear recent calls are linked to the Alessandro Bastoni controversy against Juventus.

Refereeing decisions in a 1-1 home draw against Atalanta infuriated Inter, who didn’t send coach Cristian Chivu or any of their players to speak to the media after the match.

The Serie A table leaders protested for a potential foul in the build-up to Atalanta’s equaliser in the second half and felt they deserved a penalty kick a few minutes later for a mistimed Giorgio Scalvini challenge on Davide Frattesi.

According to Gazzetta, Marotta and Ausilio politely confronted referee Gianluca Manganiello inside the dressing room at full-time.

The pink paper adds that Andrea Demarco, federal coordinator for relations between referees and clubs and Andrea Gervasoni, the delegate responsible for assessing the refereeing performance, were also present.

Inter already complained about a potential penalty kick they were denied in the final minutes of last week’s 1-0 loss to Milan.

According to Gazzetta and Sport Mediaset, Inter feel a ‘climate of hostility’ which the club attribute to the Bastoni case against Juventus.

Back in February, the Italian defender caused a red card for Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu by going too easily on a challenge from the Frenchman, and also celebrated when his opponent was sent off.

Bastoni received a hostile welcome in the following away games at Lecce and Como and in the derby against Milan, during which he also suffered an injury.

Inter remain at the top of the Serie A table with an eight-point lead over second-placed Milan, but the Rossoneri have a game in hand, to be played tonight against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.