Bastoni apologises for celebrating Kalulu red card
Alessandro Bastoni has apologised for celebrating when Pierre Kalulu was shown a controversial red card during Inter's 3-2 Serie A win over Juventus.
Juventus had to play the entire second half of the game with 10 men and was only beaten with stoppage time looming, when Piotr Zielinski drilled home from the edge of the area.
That was after Kalulu was shown his second yellow card by referee Federico La Penna in the 42nd minute, for pulling Bastoni back to prevent an Inter counter-attack.
However, Bastoni's fall was theatrical and many believed the Italian could himself have been booked for simulation, which would have resulted in Inter going down to 10, since he was on a caution himself.
Bastoni provoked further uproar by waving an imaginary yellow card at La Penna – usually another bookable offence in itself – then by celebrating enthusiastically when Kalulu was dismissed.
On the eve of Inter's Champions League play-off meeting with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, Bastoni accepted he had made mistakes.
"I wanted to come here because a lot more has happened than I would have thought or imagined after Saturday. I waited a few days to review what happened," Bastoni said.
"What I felt was contact with my arm, which was emphasised when I watched it back. I'm here to take responsibility.
"What I regret is my subsequent behaviour. A human being has the right to make mistakes but equally the duty to recognise them. That's why I'm here."
Bastoni later appeared at Inter's pre-match press conference and said: "My career and character shouldn't be defined by an incident like this. I didn't think I would create so much of an uproar.
"I noticed a lot of hypocrisy. I heard insiders say things that shouldn't be said in heaven or on Earth. I thank those who just called me 'stupid' and left it at that."
Bastoni went on to reveal his wife had received death threats in the wake of the incident, while saying the media storm that followed the incident had not affected him personally.
"It didn't affect me that much. We're exposed as players," Bastoni said. "We're accustomed to this type of media pile-on. I'm able to handle the situation.
"I'm more sorry for my wife and daughter who have found themselves on the receiving end of death threats. I also feel sorry for the referee, La Penna, for people who are less used to being exposed like that."
