Bastoni was sent off against Shakhtar, and Juventus fans haven’t forgotten Kalulu: “Karma comes back to haunt you”

A second yellow card, a red card, and off to the locker room. Alessandro Bastoni was sent off early in the Inter-Shakhtar match, and Juventus fans immediately took to social media. For many Bianconeri supporters, this was a chance for revenge—at least virtually—following the controversy surrounding the Kalulu incident. And some took the opportunity to also recall the defender’s ejection in Zenica during the national team’s match against Bosnia.

“Every now and then, even Bastoni discovers that two yellow cards can be issued in the same game. Better late than never,” writes Gianluca Ferretti on X, accompanying the message with three smiley faces. Alberto Carminati is more scathing: “When Kalulu was sent off, it seemed like Bastoni was up for an Oscar. This time, though, no acting: two yellows and everyone’s out. Too bad—I would’ve liked to see his face while he was asking for the VAR review.”

Mario Fuscelli rubs salt in the wound: “It’s thanks to him that we didn’t make it to the World Cup. In Zenica, he left Italy down to ten men; now he’s done the same to Inter.” There are also those who enjoy compiling a sort of ranking of red cards. Roberto Malaspina posted an image of Bastoni on Facebook along with a report card: “Against Juventus: 10 for acting. In Zenica: 4 for defense. Against Shakhtar: 2 for conduct. That’s the average of a student who’s in danger of failing.”

Stefano Bellocchio, on the other hand, addresses Inter fans directly: “When Kalulu was sent off, you said the referee had applied the rules. Now, please, don’t change the subject: we’re still in a lesson on the rules.” The topic of the previous incident involving the Juventus defender is the one drawing the most comments. Davide Ponziani doesn’t mince words: “The difference is that Kalulu was sent off partly because of a theatrics. Bastoni, on the other hand, did it all on his own. Kudos for his independence.”

Some choose the path of cinematic irony. Ettore Mazzoleni writes on Threads: “Following the success of *Bastoni, the Actor*, the sequel is coming to theaters: *Bastoni 2: Revenge of the Card*. Not suitable for those under two yellow cards.” The away game in Zenica keeps coming up in discussions. Luca Brambilla posts a photo of the Italian flag with a rather bitter caption: “We Italians cried that night. A leopard can’t change its spots.”

Massimiliano Corbetta even brings up the world of entertainment: “At Sanremo they honor singers, at the Oscars they honor actors, and in the Champions League the referees pull out the cards. Bastoni just has to decide which career he wants to pursue.” Not everyone, however, opts for humor. Paolo Grignani urges us to distinguish between the incidents: “Today’s red card is a matter of the field. Kalulu’s remains a black mark on refereeing. And Zenica is a wound for the national team. Lumping everything together is funny, but it doesn’t help us understand.”

A stance that doesn’t find much support among the most passionate fans. Franco Lamberti responds immediately: “Paolo, you’re right. But at least give us five minutes of fun. After what we’ve read about the Kalulu case, we’ve earned it.” Perhaps the sharpest quip comes from Sandro Vitale, who imagines a dialogue between Bastoni and the referee: “Excuse me, but does the second yellow card still count even if I’m from Inter?” And he adds: “The referee’s reply: ‘Yes, the rules are international.’”

Giuseppe Morandi effectively wraps up the discussion with a reflection on Facebook, complete with a reimagined proverb: “He who wounds with a card, perishes by a card. But if he first got Kalulu sent off and then got himself sent off in Zenica, the proverb becomes a trilogy.” Meanwhile, amid jokes and controversy, Bastoni’s name continues to circulate on social media. Inter fans are defending their player, while Juventus fans are digging up old footage, and the discussion is spreading far beyond what happened against Shakhtar.