Cristian Chivu's statements, the Inter coach, in the lead-up to Wednesday's match against Bodo/Glimt, part of the UEFA Champions League play-off, have sparked a wave of outrage, especially among Napoli fans. To defend Alessandro Bastoni, who was involved in a huge controversy during the match against Juventus, the Romanian coach invoked the name of Diego Armando Maradona, igniting social media. "Every Sunday there is a case like this, since the times of Maradona, who scored a goal with his hand. No one ever said anything to him," the Romanian stated. This comparison, made to justify the simulation and celebration of the Italian central defender after the controversial expulsion of Pierre Kalulu in the Derby d'Italia, recalling the famous 'Hand of God' by the Argentine in 1986, was seen as an offense to the Neapolitan idol. The reaction from Napoli fans was immediate and overwhelming. On social media, criticisms of the Inter coach multiplied. Messages like "Chivu, wash your mouth before you speak of Maradona," "You shouldn't even mention Maradona's name," and "Do you have any idea who Maradona was?" demonstrate the general discontent. Some fans highlighted the difference in contexts, recalling that "Maradona's goal was in a World Cup, here we are talking about referees and Serie A." The controversy was not limited to Napoli fans. Historical rivals of Inter, such as those from Milan and Juventus, also joined in the criticism. A Milan fan commented on social media X: "To justify Bastoni, Father Chivu is going back in time to Maradona's hand. At this rate, they'll reach the birth of football." Juventus fans created memes, calling Chivu a "clown" for comparing the incident to the "Hand of God." Another statement from Chivu that was poorly received was the reference to a play from the match against Napoli. The coach recalled a touch from Mkhitaryan on Di Lorenzo that resulted in a penalty for the Neapolitan team, stating: "In Naples, we were wronged." This statement also faced backlash. What disappointed fans the most was Chivu's apparent contradiction. It should be noted that days earlier, the coach himself had stated that he would only enter into refereeing controversies when he saw a coach admit to a mistake in his favor. "I will only enter into refereeing controversies when I see a coach who, after having a favorable call, says in a press conference: 'He made a mistake in my favor, I apologize.' People always complain when the mistakes are against them; it's human," he had declared at the time. This change in stance generated a sense of disappointment, as Chivu was seen as someone who could bring more common sense to Italian football.
Controversial Inter Juventus Still Affects remains central to this story.
Controversial Inter Juventus Still Affects remains central to this story.
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