Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has demanded that Alessandro Bastoni be suspended from the national team following the Inter Milan defender’s controversial actions against Juventus. In a thrilling Serie A clash, Inter secured a 3-2 victory at the San Siro, extending their lead at the top of the table to eight points. Andrea Cambiaso’s own goal initially put Inter ahead, but he redeemed himself with an equalizer in the 26th minute. Pio Esposito restored Inter’s lead in the second half, only for Manuel Locatelli to level for Juventus once again.
The decisive moment came in the 90th minute when Piotr Zielinski netted the winner for Cristian Chivu’s side. However, the match was heavily shaped by a 42nd-minute red card shown to Pierre Kalulu. Kalulu was dismissed after Bastoni – recently linked with a move to Liverpool – theatrically fell to the ground and gestured toward the referee, claiming Kalulu had pulled his shirt. Referee Federico La Penna was deceived by the clear dive and sent off Kalulu for a second yellow, leaving Juventus with ten men for the entire second half. Bastoni’s simulation and his subsequent celebration have sparked widespread outrage in Italy.
The controversy reached political heights when Letta, who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2014, called for strict sanctions against Bastoni, stating on social media:
“Bastoni shouldn’t be called up to the national team.”
Dropping Bastoni would be a major decision, as he is a key player for Italy, who are yet to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They will face Northern Ireland in the playoffs, with a potential final qualification match against either Wales or Bosnia.
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