Sunday, 11th May 2008 - 21:57CET

Inter's Materazzi apologises for penalty

Inter defender Marco Materazzi has apologised for taking and missing a penalty in Sunday's 2-2 draw at home to Siena.

The Serie A leaders would have won the title with a victory but are now just one point ahead of second-placed AS Roma with one round of matches left next weekend.

Inter visit relegation-threatened Parma and Roma go to struggling Catania. With regular penalty taker Zlatan Ibrahimovic out with a knee injury, Materazzi argued with team mate and main striker Julio Cruz over who should take the 78th-minute spotkick, which was easily saved by Siena keeper Alex Manninger.

"I'm sorry, I should have let Julio take it and I've apologised to him. Now we need to pick ourselves up and think about Parma, it will be like a final," the Italy centre back told Sky.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini, whose side had an 11-point lead in February, was not amused. "Marco should not have taken the penalty. But maybe Cruz would have missed it too," said the 43-year-old, whose position is under threat according to some media reports which say former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is wating in the wings.

Inter fans packed the San Siro hoping for a title party but around 200 of them stayed on to protest as the team coach left after the match. "Get back to work," media reports quoted them as chanting.

Picture:

Siena's goalkeeper Alexander Manninger (L) smiles as Inter's Marco Materazzi is embraced by Siena's Christian Rigano at the end of their Italian Serie A soccer match at the San Siro stadium.

Comments

D.Cauchi (3 days, 5 hours ago)

AC Milan last year played their second Champions League final within three years.

Juventus returned to Serie A only this year and with their limitations had a fine season.

Inter on the contrary with all their dreams of grandeur failed again in the only cup that mattered to them that is the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

So the term laughing stock of Europe applies wonderfully to Inter.

I am sure that even in the near future inter will be delighting us with more pearls coming from both players and the club/Moratti.

C. Cremona (4 days, 2 hours ago)

"laughing stock of European Football" just because they are fighting for the Italian league title and in the final of Coppa Italia ? What are Milan or Juve to be considered then ?

D, Cauchi (4 days, 4 hours ago)

What a day seeing that Jackass bulldozing his way to kick the penalty and then failing to score it.

No wonder that Inter is considered as the laughing stock of European Football.

Sandro Agius (4 days, 5 hours ago)

Good Job, Bainco neri di Siena. Inter must fight hard for this league and maybe they will lose it. Than the reason would be the arrogance of how Inter FC, Mancini and some players play and participate. In Maltese we say; "Biex tiskongra trid tkun pur".

Serie A at least now returned to be the most beautiful football in the World. Keep it up Italians.