Ex-Torino Striker Ciccio Graziani: “Inter Didn’t Win Scudetto Last Season Because Of Penalties Awarded”

Former Torino star Francesco Graziani believes that penalties did not impact Inter Milan’s run to the Serie A title last season, and that every team benefitted from decisions at some point.

The Nerazzurri’s 1-1 draw against Napoli last time out in Serie A was mired in controversy after Inter were awarded a second-half penalty when Denzel Dumfries went down amidst contact from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, although Hakan Calhanoglu duly missed from the spot.

It has led to arguments that Inter have benefitted from an unduly high number of penalty decisions, but in an interview with Italian radio station Radio Sportiva yesterday, and as reported by FCInterNews.it, Graziani felt that all teams had their fair share of decisions.

“It doesn’t seem to me that Inter won on penalties last year, everyone was given somewhat questionable penalties,” the former Roma striker stated.

Meanwhile, he argued that coaches were more than happy to take advantage of questionable decisions that went in their favour, and only spoke of negative impacts against them.

“You have to express your thoughts, both good and bad. When the coaches have an advantage from a controversial episode, they never speak up.

“When they have incidents going against them, they start to argue.

“I would go to the VAR room more often. Maybe if they had called (referee) Maurizio Mariani, he could have judged more carefully whether the touch was light or not.”

The draw leaves Inter a point behind leaders Napoli in the Serie A table, as Simone Inzaghi’s side look to defend their title and win a third Scudetto in five years.

Graziani won the Serie A title with Torino in 1976 and also helped Roma reach the European Cup final in 1983, whilst he represented the Italian national team 64 times, scoring 23 goals.