The tension surrounding Inter Milan’s recent refereeing decisions has reached a boiling point, particularly after the controversial non-penalty call in the Milan derby that ended in a 1-1 draw. While club president Beppe Marotta has attempted to downplay the situation, manager Simone Inzaghi’s frustration is palpable, with reports suggesting he has compiled a dossier of contentious decisions dating back to early 2025.
Inzaghi’s Post-Derby Outburst
Following the Milan derby, Inzaghi’s comments to various media outlets highlighted his growing discontent: “The players were magnificent, but unfortunately, we couldn’t overcome the episodes of three posts, three disallowed goals, and a blatant penalty on Thuram. I don’t want to talk about it because it’s a broad discussion, but we remember the refereeing errors against Bologna and in the Riyadh final. I don’t understand what the directives are. Everyone makes mistakes, but on the fourth or fifth occasion, after seeing jurisprudence broadcasts on Inter’s episodes, I’m starting to get angry.”
The Five Controversial Cases
Inzaghi’s dossier reportedly includes five specific incidents:
1. The Supercoppa Italiana final in Riyadh against AC Milan, where a foul on Asllani led to Theo Hernandez’s goal that changed the game’s dynamics.
2. A penalty claim against Bologna when Skorupski challenged Thuram in the box, resulting in a foul called against the French striker instead.
3. An overlooked “karate kick” in Empoli’s penalty area on Lautaro Martinez, which went unnoticed despite Inter’s 3-1 victory.
4. A potential handball by Baschirotto in the match against Lecce, which Inter won 4-0 but felt should have resulted in a penalty.
5. The recent Pavlovic-Thuram incident in the Milan derby, which has sparked significant debate.
The Conte Connection
Inzaghi’s frustration seems to have been exacerbated by what he perceives as a shift in refereeing attitudes following comments made by Napoli coach Antonio Conte on November 10th. Conte had suggested there were “ulterior motives” behind a penalty awarded to Inter in their previous encounter. Since then, Inzaghi believes the pendulum has swung against his team, forcing him to voice his complaints publicly.
