Penalty controversy benefits Inter Milan
ROME (AFP) - Champions and league leaders Inter Milan were once again the beneficiaries of a controversial penalty as they beat Empoli 1-0 at the San Siro to move eight points clear at the top of the table.
Second-placed Roma slumped to a miserable 3-0 defeat at lively Siena to undo all the good work they managed last weekend in cutting the gap at the top from seven to five points.
But the main talking-point will be the penalty that should not have been in Milan, for the second time in two weeks.
Julio Cruz lashed a left-foot shot at goal that struck Ighli Vannucchi in the side of the head and then may have glanced off his hand in the box, although even television replays could not show clearly one way or the other.
But the referee pointed to the spot and Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired home the penalty on 34 minutes.
The award of a spot-kick bore a remarkable similarity to an episode two weeks ago when Inter beat Parma 3-2.
With time running out they were losing 2-1 at home when veteran Portugal defender Fernando Couto was penalised for handball on the line when he deflected a shot wide with his head, although even he admitted afterwards that the ball had then hit his hand.
Couto was dismissed and Ibrahimovic scored the penalty before adding a winner deep into injury time.
That penalty decision caused such a stir in the press, with Inter accused of being favoured by referees, that the club boycotted the press for two weeks, refusing to grant interviews to anyone other than their own television channel and internet site.
Empoli could have salvaged something from the game as Inter's returning France captain Patrick Vieira, making his first start since October, was dismissed five minutes after the goal for picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.
He was booked for a foul and then protested so vociferously that he was immediately booked again.
Empoli were also awarded a second-half penalty for a foul by Marco Materazzi on Luca Saudati but the substitute striker's resulting spot-kick was saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
AFP
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