Sunday 21 February, 2010
Blog: Mou who cried wolfInter proved they have the cry-baby mentality, even when the referee gets it right, argues Susy Campanale
The sight of Jose Mourinho holding his wrists together and staring down the television cameras will remain long in the memory. What it represents is another matter entirely.
To him and the Inter supporters who waved their toilet paper (it was the closest they could find to white handkerchiefs, but oddly fitting considering the situation), it was a cry for freedom from the persecution of the Calciopoli system or a call for the referee to be carted away to prison. Everyone else on the planet interpreted it as the latest evidence this is a club of unabashed cry-babies.
What did the referee do to warrant such a hysterical reaction? Well, he sent off two Inter players in the first 38 minutes. The problem is he did so because they deserved it. Walter Samuel went clattering into Nicola Pozzi for his first booking, then blocked him off with an elbow when running clear on goal. How is that an incorrect refereeing decision?
Ivan Cordoba rushed out of the defensive wall before the Sampdoria player had even begun his run-up for the free kick, let alone made contact with the ball. It was a yellow card offence, that’s inarguable. When you’ve been booked only a few minutes earlier, it’s not wise to up-end Pozzi in midfield, is it?
Let’s not forget the incident that prompted hysterical laughter on the touchlines from Mourinho, who as always plays to the gallery. Samuel Eto’o barely brushed up against the defender and went tumbling in the box. A lesser official would merely have waved play on, but Paolo Tagliavento was brave enough to call the Cameroon international on his diving. If the referee made any mistakes, it was not sending off Diego Milito for his studs-on-knee challenge on Angelo Palombo.
Imagine if Inter had been subjected to the kind of genuine injustice that Fiorentina suffered at Bayern Munich this week? The only proportional reaction from Mourinho would’ve been to stage a military coup on UEFA headquarters and declare himself the new benevolent dictator. Let’s face it, this is a man who really wants to be portrayed in giant statues.
I hope everyone who felt a bit sorry for Inter or who was starting to fall for Mourinho’s spin had a good look at those incidents against Sampdoria. It’s about time Inter learn the rules do actually apply to them. You can’t just barge someone off the ball with your elbow. You can’t rush out of the wall before the opponent has taken his kick. You can’t dive and expect to not only get away with it, but receive a penalty as well. Nor can you crowd around the referee at every incident, pointing and shouting like children in kindergarten telling tales.
Cesare Prandelli and Fiorentina used humour and good grace to deflect the anger they felt at inarguable mistakes in Munich. They proved themselves to be gentlemen. Mourinho and Inter have instead acted like spoilt brats. The Nerazzurri have blown it now, they cried wolf and everyone saw there was nothing there.
::football-italia::And you guys are saying we're a joke? We have more class than they've had in their whole history!
The ref gets everything right and they refuse to talk to the media in protest. Apparently, they don't think football rules should apply to them. This club will always be the joke.
servbot, are you watching the match?!? Remember what happens when you watch them play!
and I need a distraction.
