After the two faced off on the touchline during the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday, Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini accused his counterpart at Napoli, Maurizio Sarri, of hurling various slurs at him.

Mancini made the accusations during an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai TV (via Marcus Christenson of the Guardian—warning: link contains strong language):    

The confrontation on the touchline? You have to ask Sarri about that, he is a racist. People like him does not belong in football. He used racist words. I stood up to ask about the five minutes being added on and Sarri shouted ‘p–f’ and ‘f—-t’ at me. I would be proud to be that if he is what’s considered a man. People like him should not be in football. He is 60 years old. The fourth official heard but didn’t say anything. He came to see me in the changing room to apologise but he should really be ashamed of himself.

Sarri neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, per Rai Sport (via Italian football journalist Adam Digby):

Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina came to his manager’s defense.

“I don’t know precisely what the coach said, but when you are annoyed you say many things,” Reina said to Rai Sport (via Football Italia). “If he was wrong, he’ll be the first to admit that. Obviously these are things that should remain on the pitch. Many times people say things they don’t really believe.”

It’s no secret world football has a history with acts of racism and homophobia, particularly by supporters inside the stadium. The sport’s governing bodies can’t possibly eradicate what are societal issues, but they can deliver stiff punishments to those found guilty of committing the act(s).

Should the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) investigate Mancini’s claims and find Sarri did use homophobic slurs, then the Napoli manager deserves to be suspended.

Chalking up the transgression to a heat-of-the-moment mistake isn’t an excuse, and standing on the touchline of a football pitch doesn’t give a manager carte blanche to use offensive words or phrases.

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