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MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale Milano controls the ball whilst under pressure from Santiago Pierotti of US Lecce during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Como coach Cesc Fabregas and former Italy star Giuseppe Rossi urged fans around Serie A to stop jeering Alessandro Bastoni after the simulation controversy. ‘On the field, you do anything to win.’
The Inter defender was roundly criticised in the media after an obvious simulation got Pierre Kalulu sent off during their win over Juventus, and because it was a second yellow card, VAR could not intervene.
The incident was so controversial that it prompted IFAB to change the protocol from the World Cup this summer, allowing VAR to correct a clear and obvious error if a player is sent off for a second bookable offence.
Although Bastoni later apologised in public, he has not been forgiven, with loud jeers at his every touch in the games against Lecce and Como.
Bastoni still being jeered by other fans
“I don’t know him, but I think he is a top player and a great lad,” said Como coach Fabregas in a press conference after last night’s Coppa Italia semi-final.
“He has to be the future captain of the Italy squad, he is fundamental, and we must protect him. He got it wrong that day, certainly, it can happen to players, it happened to me too, as I made a mistake at San Siro.
“You apologise and you move forward. He is intelligent and he’ll get out of this.”
Support for Bastoni also came from former Italy, Fiorentina and Manchester United striker Rossi, who commented on the situation when speaking to The Italian Football Podcast.
“Listen, on the field you do anything to win. And if Bastoni thought that was the thing to do, then for him it was the thing to do,” noted Rossi.
“It worked. They were able to have one guy more [on the pitch]. And ultimately win the game. Can you fault him? No. Do I like it? No I hate that type of stuff. But can you fault him? No, you can’t fault him. Unfortunately, it’s all part of the game. I fault the VAR and I fault whatever these damn rules regarding the VAR.”
The jeers from the fans of other clubs also follow appeals to have Bastoni excluded from international duty in the upcoming World Cup play-offs.
“And all this, saying that he not going to on the national team is BS. Everybody does something that’s on the limits of the rules in order to gain an advantage,” added Rossi.
“If that’s the case him not going on the national team, then we have no national team.”
