Inter's Marotta addresses referee controversy as Scudetto looms
Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta has publicly addressed the growing controversy surrounding the club and Italy's refereeing body, insisting the Nerazzurri have acted with "maximum correctness." Speaking to Sky Sport ahead of Inter's Serie A match against Torino, Marotta responded to reports linking the club to an investigation that led to the suspension of designator Gianluca Rocchi. The executive stated the club learns everything from the press and expressed surprise at the declarations made.
Marotta firmly denied that Inter maintains a list of preferred or disliked match officials. "We have acted in the maximum correctness and this must reassure everyone, this is the most important fact," he said. He also used the opportunity to counter-criticize, referencing past decisions that went against his team. He pointed to the previous season as one where Inter suffered adverse and subsequently acknowledged refereeing errors, citing a specific penalty incident in the Inter-Roma match as an example clarified by the refereeing authorities.
Despite the off-field storm, Inter's on-field situation could not be more different. The team, under coach Simone Inzaghi, stands on the verge of clinching the Serie A title, potentially as early as this weekend. Marotta shifted focus to this achievement, praising the coach and squad. "We must still reach this double target," he said, referencing the league and the upcoming Coppa Italia final. Winning the Coppa Italia would mark a tenth triumph in the competition for the club.
When pressed by Sky studio hosts about specific match days and referees named in the prosecutor's report, such as Colombo and Doveri, Marotta offered a cautious response. "I am surprised because absolutely... I don't say I don't remember... I don't find a connection with this," he stated. He reiterated that the club has learned all news from the media and has provided exhaustive answers. These comments sparked significant reaction online, with some fans drawing parallels to the historic Calciopoli scandal.
In a subsequent interview with DAZN, Marotta expanded on his stance, aiming to project calm. He again referenced last season's verified errors and stated the club's strength lies in its propriety and tranquility. When asked about potential repercussions for Inter, he was definitive: "No, absolutely not. We are very calm and we want to reassure everyone." He emphasized the current priority is securing the Scudetto as quickly as possible to then focus on the Coppa Italia.
The CEO expressed a desire for the team and fans to enjoy the impending title victory, ideally at San Siro. "Winning a Scudetto at home, in front of our fans, would be a beautiful thing," Marotta said. He acknowledged it would be beautiful to win it on Sunday, but stressed the credit belongs entirely to the coach and the players for their dominant season. The club now navigates a period of significant sporting success alongside serious off-pitch allegations concerning the integrity of Italian football.
