Vieri defends Bastoni ahead of Italy’s World Cup play-offs: ‘That should be enough’ – Football Italia

BARI, ITALY – AUGUST 16: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter during Pre-Season Friendly match between FC Internazionale and Olympiacos FC at Stadio San Nicola on August 16, 2025 in Bari, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Former Inter and Italy striker Christian Vieri argues that Alessandro Bastoni has ‘apologised, knows that he was wrong and that should be enough’, as the Nerazzurri defender continues to earn boos around grounds in Italy following his involvement in the sending off of Juventus’s Pierre Kalulu in the Derby d’Italia last month. 

Bastoni continues to cut a divisive figure in Italy after Inter’s 3-2 victory over rivals Juventus in Serie A in February. 

The Nerazzurri centre-back was involved in a controversial incident that saw Juventus defender Kalulu wrongly sent off for a second bookable offence. 

With the scores level at 1-1 in the first half, Bastoni took an obvious tumble to the floor under the soft challenge of Kalulu, which resulted in referee Federico La Penna sending the Juventus man off for his second yellow card. Bastoni was then seen passionately celebrating as the red card was shown to Kalulu. Inter went on to win 3-2 against the 10-man Bianconeri. 

Bastoni apologised for the way that he celebrated the decision to send Kalulu off a few days after the incident, but condemned the abuse that he and his family had suffered in the aftermath. 

The ordeal has upset not just upset Juventus supporters, as the Italy international has since been treated to boos at various grounds across Serie A.

There had even been calls from certain supporters for the Nerazzurri defender to be dropped from Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy squad ahead of the crucial World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of March. 

Former Italy players defend Bastoni

Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the upcoming Derby della Madonnina between Inter and Milan, former Italy striker Vieri has come out in defence of Bastoni. 

“What he did, everyone does. Come on,” Vieri said. “The cameras are unforgiving and social media is terrible. They take out all the context. 

“We’ve seen videos of those who celebrate, even those who pretend to be hurt on the pitch, those who get up as soon as their opponent is booked. Bastoni went into the press room, apologised, he knows it was wrong and that should be enough. The Milan fans will all boo, but not just him.” 

Former Juventus winger Massimo Mauro has also come out in defence of Bastoni ahead of the World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland on March 26. 

“The fact that Bastoni gets booed everywhere is a bit ridiculous. At this point, you’d have to boo 60-70% of footballers,” he said in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“The issue got blown out of proportion because Kalulu was sent off. Then Bastoni celebrated, and you shouldn’t do that, of course, but you can’t pay for it for the rest of your life either. That’s ridiculous.”