Fabregas and Rossi back Bastoni over the Juventus incident

As well as coach Cesc Fabregas, former Italy star Giuseppe Rossi have supported Alessandro Bastoni over the simulation controversy. 

The pair have urged fans around Serie A to stop jeering the defender after he was roundly criticised in the media after an obvious simulation that got Pierre Kalulu sent off during their win over Juventus. 

Having been cautioned, the Frenchman was given a second yellow card, and VAR could not intervene.

The controversy prompted IFAB to change the protocol for the World Cup this summer, allowing VAR to correct a clear error if a player is sent off for a second bookable offence.

 Bastoni had also tendered a public apology and had not been forgiven, with loud jeers at his every touch in the games against Lecce and Como.

Speaking during a post-match conference, Fabregas described the Italian international as a top player and a great lad.

The Como coach who said Bastoni has to be the future captain of the Italy squad is fundamental, and he must be protected. 

“He got it wrong that day, certainly, it can happen to players, it happened to me too, as I made a mistake at San Siro. You apologise, and you move forward. He is intelligent, and he’ll get out of this,” he added.

Lending his voice to the situation,  former Italy, Fiorentina, and Manchester United striker Rossi told  The Italian Football Podcast that a player can do anything on the pitch to win.

“And if Bastoni thought that was the thing to do, then for him it was the thing to do. It worked. They were able to have one guy more [on the pitch]. And ultimately win the game. Can you fault him? No. Do I like it? No, I hate that type of stuff. But can you fault him? No, you can’t fault him. Unfortunately, it’s all part of the game. I fault the VAR, and I fault whatever these damn rules regarding the VAR are.”

Apart from the jeers from the fans of other clubs, there have been appeals to have Bastoni excluded from international duty in the upcoming World Cup play-offs.

Rossi said all these are not necessary as everybody does something that’s on the limits of the rules to gain an advantage.

He added that Italy has no national team; if a player such as Bastoni is allowed to be with the national team, then they have no national team.