Antonio Conte bitterly criticised referee Mark Clattenburg, assigned to Belgium v Italy, as “making fun of us.”
The English official will take the whistle in Monday’s Euro 2016 opener in Lyon.
Although it is the 41-year-old’s first game in charge of the senior Italy squad, he already has history with Conte.
Clattenburg was slammed by Conte after the second leg of the Europa League semi-final in May 2014 between Juventus and Benfica.
Antonio Conte bitterly criticised referee Mark Clattenburg, assigned to Belgium v Italy, as “making fun of us.”
The English official will take the whistle in Monday’s Euro 2016 opener in Lyon.
Although it is the 41-year-old’s first game in charge of the senior Italy squad, he already has history with Conte.
Clattenburg was slammed by Conte after the second leg of the Europa League semi-final in May 2014 between Juventus and Benfica.
“The referee has to be blamed for allowing Benfica to play obstructionist football,” Conte told reporters at the time.
“He was making fun of us.”
That game ended 0-0 and Juventus were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate.
Clattenburg’s record with Italian teams at club and international level is of three wins, two draws and five defeats.