Inter Milan fear plot after city derby win (News Feature)

By Alberto Cagliano Jan 26, 2010, 13:56 GMT

Rome - In the end, after almost 24 hours of brooding victimhood from Inter Milan, the football federation advised them that it was time to cool down and stop complaining about the alleged wrongs suffered during Sunday's city derby with AC Milan.

Winning the game 2-0 despite two dismissals and stretching to nine points the lead on their city rivals seemed to be irrelevant for the reigning champions, who are convinced they are the targets of a conspiracy to prevent them from winning a fifth straight title.

Listening to president Massimo Moratti, Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho and director general Ernesto Paolillo one could have thought they were talking in defence of a bruised relegation-threatened side.

Late Monday, a halt was called to their remonstrations by Demetrio Albertini, the vice president of the Italian football federation (FIGC), who closely followed the 2006 epochal match-rigging scandal involving Juventus and his former club Milan.

'I was sorry to hear talks about a plot,' Albertini told the ANSA news agency.

'But what displeased me most was to hear Mourinho say (regarding refereeing) 'I'm a foreigner and will leave one day and the problems will remain with you.'

'What problems is he talking about? It sounds as if we still have a problem (about referees). I did not expect such a superficial accusation from Mourinho. It's useless to sling mud at Italian football.

'He, who is always so direct, should avoid talking in an indirect and vague way. If he has anything to say, he should do it openly. And when Mourinho will leave us, as an Italian, I won't have any of those problems (he hinted at).'

What triggered Inter's anger were the first-half dismissal of Dutchman Wesley Sneijder and that of Brazilian Lucio very late in the game.

Lucio was first yellow-carded for faking a foul, after which Sneijder, who had already heavily insulted the referee, ironically, and at length, applauded him, only to be surprised at the red card.

Sneijder has since received a two-match suspension for the dismissal while Lucio is banned for one game.

'It's not over,' Mourinho said. 'There will be more difficulties. They'll do anything not to let us win the scudetto, but we'll win it because I have great players.'

According to director general Paolillo 'there is an evident air of wanting to reopen the league, not recognizing the superiority of a team and wanting to reopen it in a not completely fair and sporting way.'

Paolillo went on to cite what he feels are 'the many things that don't fit,' such as the postponement of the Fiorentina-AC Milan match, which was postponed in December to late February, and a couple of controversial calls in previous games.

The Radio 1 show hosting Paolillo also had as guest Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, from whom Mourinho, who is widely revered as a 'great communicator,' and his club may have something to learn style-wise.

'We insiders must believe in the good faith of the referee,' Mazzarri said. 'We must look beyond and understand that an unfair call may stem from a not-so-good day for the referee.

Mazzarri described Sneijder's gesture as 'irreverent' and suggested it was up to the coach 'to coach players to accept the decisions of referees.'