Bastoni mercilessly insulted during Lecce vs. Inter after controversial red card

Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni has not shaken off the controversy for unsporting behaviour yet, as Lecce fans loudly jeered him at every touch today, with Cristian Chivu reassuring the defender.

You can follow all the action as it happens from that game on the Liveblog.

The Italy international was at the centre of controversy over the last week since he simulated a foul to get Pierre Kalulu sent off for Juventus in what turned out to be a 3-2 Nerazzurri victory.

As it was a second yellow card, it could not be overturned using VAR, while the video evidence protocol for serious unsporting behaviour was also too limiting for action to be taken later on.

Bastoni cannot shake off backlash

However, there were calls for Bastoni to be dropped from the Azzurri as punishment, and the issue is clearly not behind him yet.

From the opening whistle at the Stadio Via del Mare this evening, Lecce fans mercilessly and loudly jeered his every touch of the ball.

Chivu noticed on the touchline and tried to reassure the player, telling him to “just ignore them, keep going, you’re doing well, don’t think about it.”

It remains to be seen how long it will take Bastoni to shake off the controversy from that incident, even after his public apology for both making a meal of the situation, and then wildly celebrating the red card.