The fallout from the Derby d’Italia controversy surrounding Alessandro Bastoni has taken a serious turn, with former RAI journalist Giovanna Botteri publicly accusing the Inter Milan defender of racism against Pierre Kalulu during a television debate on LA7’s programme “In altre parole.”
The comments, via FCInter1908, were made in response to the now well-documented incident in which Bastoni’s simulation led to a second yellow card for Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, who was subsequently dismissed.
Bastoni has since publicly apologised for his role in the incident, admitting he was wrong.
However, that apology has done little to silence his critics, and Botteri’s intervention has significantly escalated the controversy.
Journalist Massimo Gramellini had opened the discussion by suggesting Bastoni had “managed the miracle of getting a Juventus player unjustly sent off, something that belongs to a new world.”
Ex-Rai Journalist Botteri Accuses Bastoni Of ‘Racism Against ‘Neretto’ Kalulu’
Botteri went considerably further, introducing a racial element to the debate.
“He is also a Black player,” she said of Kalulu. “Black, there is also a racist element here.”
Fellow panellist Beppe Severgnini, a well-known Inter supporter, pushed back firmly against suggestions Bastoni should face extreme consequences.
“From here to turning him into some kind of beast is wrong,” he said.
“If you ban from the national team everyone who has ever simulated, it’ll just be me and Massimo playing.”
Botteri, however, was unmoved.
“He did something disgusting,” she said.
“He got the ‘little Black player’ sent off and then celebrated. Has he apologised? At that point he had no choice, everyone saw it.”
The accusations of racism represent a significant escalation and are likely to draw a strong response from both Bastoni and Inter Milan.
It’s like the whole world is subscribed on “victim card”, or being offended on someone else’s behalf. Earlier you could say almost anything to anyone, even curse words, the guy would just reply go f*** yourself also or something like that and just continue on with his life. Now there’s a whole process if you unintentionally speak some bad word and someone gets triggered immediately, there are far more serious problems in the world over something someone unimportant to you says…
Of course she is like some of delusional fake inter “fans” who also called me racist cause I said Kululu should go back to Congo. Well he is from Congo. That journalist and some of the fake inter fans who called me racist are loser. inter milan is above that racist journalist, rube, ac milan, c.unte, and above some of the fake fans of inter!
uh oh
Retard alert… Retard alert…!!!
I think she’s the racist for saying that.
That right! No one but her thought about that.
This makes no sense. The journalist brought race into this, and she made the racist remark. “Little black player” like are you serious.
I think this is overkill. He’s accusing someone of something disgusting without any concrete evidence. While he’s so enthusiastic about saying it, he’s actually imagining it himself; his heart and mouth are incredibly filthy.
Beppe – time to act.
Agreed, this has gone way too far.
Bastoni has become a bit of a liability with his handsy play risking pens / cards etc.
And his diving and play acting are also not welcome BUT turning this into some racism witch hunt is just pathetic.
Hopefully he scores for Italy soon and all is forgotten
so if i commented botteri is an idiot would i be called a racist towards italians? no, just botteri. what a pickme guy