Antonio Cassano thinks Roberto Mancini was “smart to light a fuse” under the Maurizio Sarri homophobia allegations.
The Inter and Napoli Coach had a blazing touchline row during the Coppa Italia quarter-final, sparking a scandal that saw Sarri receive a two-round Coppa ban for using homophobic slurs.
Yesterday Mancini and Inter formally accepted Sarri's apology.
Antonio Cassano thinks Roberto Mancini was “smart to light a fuse” under the Maurizio Sarri homophobia allegations.
The Inter and Napoli Coach had a blazing touchline row during the Coppa Italia quarter-final, sparking a scandal that saw Sarri receive a two-round Coppa ban for using homophobic slurs.
Yesterday Mancini and Inter formally accepted Sarri's apology.
“I don’t really like moralizing, as Sarri said two words and was wrong, but we can’t put him in prison for the rest of his life,” Cassano told Sky Sport Italia.
“He said something when he was irritable, he was losing the game, but it has to end there. Sarri was wrong, but the whole matter should’ve stayed on the pitch.
“As far as I’m concerned, if you and I say something to each other, it remains between us, man to man. I didn’t like the fact everyone went to crucify Sarri, who I am told is a good person.
“Mancini, being smart, lit the fuse. The only thing we mustn’t do is moralize and crucify Sarri. He made a mistake, but life goes on. He didn’t offend homosexuals or anyone else.”
Cassano, of course, was guilty of using the exact same homophobic slur during a Press conference for Italy at the 2014 World Cup.
His agent explained away the incident, noting he was so “uneducated” that he didn’t know it wasn’t a PC term for the gay community.