Inter boss Roberto Mancini has accused Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri of using racist and homophobic slurs towards him on Tuesday night.
The 51-year-old was seen reacting angrily on the sidelines in the closing stages of his side’s 2-0 win in the Coppa Italia clash in Naples, and he was sent off following this altercation as his team celebrated their second goal.
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“Sarri is a racist and men like him should be drummed out of football. I got up to ask the fourth official why there were five minutes of added time. Sarri then got up and shouted ‘p**f’ and ‘f****t’ at me. I would be proud to be that if he is what’s considered a man,” Mancini explained to Rai Sport.
“I am not remotely interested in talking about the game. A 60-year-old man who acts like this is shameful. You can argue, but this is shameful.”
The Inter coach added that Sarri apologised in the locker room after the game, but insisted that in England it would not be tolerated and he would be denied the opportunity to continue to set foot on the touchline.
It remains to be seen what punishment is handed out to Sarri, although the Napoli boss played down the situation in his post-game press conference and insisted that the matter should have ended after the apology, as reported by Football Italia.
Goals from Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic ensured that the visitors advanced on Tuesday night, as they inflicted a first home loss of the season on the Partenopei in all competitions in a tense encounter that saw the frustration levels build at the San Paolo.
The Serie A leaders were unable to play with the some intensity and ambition as they have done all season, and so it will undoubtedly be a disappointing blow for the club in their pursuit of multiple trophies this year as they had only lost once since the opening day of the campaign.
Nevertheless, they remain two points clear of Juventus in the league table and will participate in the knockout stages of the Europa League. While Sarri will face a nervous wait to discover whether or not any retrospective action will be taken, he will look to keep his players focused on Sunday’s clash Sampdoria.