Racism in the soccer world continues to be an issue the sport attempts to confront and eliminate, but that tends to be focused more on players. Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has accused Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri of racism, claiming Sarri lobbed both racist and homophobic remarks his way late in a Coppa Italia match Tuesday night.
The two managers had quite the shouting match toward the end of Tuesday’s match. Inter Milan won 2-0, but not without the tension heating up and boiling over after Dries Mertens picked up a second yellow card for an ejection, leading to the two clubs exchanging heated words in stoppage time. It is believed to be somewhere in that series of extracurricular activities when Sarri allegedly fired some abusive language in Mancini’s direction.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini has claimed Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri called him gay tonight…https://t.co/sATQpNiKPW
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) January 19, 2016
“You have to ask Sarri what happened as he is a racist,” Mancini said, per a report from ESPN.com. “Men like him shouldn’t be in the world of football. He is 60 years old and must be ashamed.
“I got up to ask about the five minutes of injury time and he yelled ‘f—–.’ I would be happy to be one if he is what’s considered a man.”
Mancini went on to say Sarri did seek him out to apologize, but Mancini apparently wanted little to do with it in reiterating his belief that Sarri should be embarrassed by his actions.
“He tried to find me after the match and asked for forgiveness, but he should be embarrassed. In England, someone like him wouldn’t even be allowed on a training pitch.”
Sarri, of course, said afterward no offense was intended. Uh-huh. Yeah. OK. Suuuuuure.
“It was the kind of argument that people have on the touchline or on the pitch. I apologised to him in the locker room, but I expected him to apologise to me too. I think what happened on the pitch should stay on the pitch,” the Napoli manager said.
“I can’t remember [my exact words], it’s possible [I used that language]. I was fired up and angry, so I’m not sure what I said.”
If you were wondering, these two clubs will face off again next on April 17.
[ESPN]
