Italy suffered a true debacle and failed to qualify for the World Cup, with the key moment of the match in Zenica occurring when French referee Clement Turpin showed a red card to Bastoni. The expulsion of the brilliant defender significantly eased the Dragons' path to a historic victory, while in Italy, Bastoni has been singled out as the main scapegoat for the national team's collapse. Public criticism, newspaper headlines, and insults from fans have crossed the line of good taste, prompting Inter's top executive, Beppe Marotta, to step in to defend his defender. "It is a disgrace that Bastoni is subjected to this relentless media lynching, as if he is to blame for who knows what," Marotta sharply stated to DAZN, trying to remove the target from the 26-year-old player's back. Marotta emphasized that the problems of Italian football run much deeper than one expulsion in Zenica. "If you look at our elimination from the World Cup playoffs, the reasons for it go much further into the past. In any case, a young man his age does not deserve such treatment. People make mistakes in life, but in Italy, everyone thinks they are experts and psychologists, without even knowing what kind of man and professional they are dealing with. He made a mistake, we all acknowledge that, but it can happen," Marotta was clear. The media pressure in Italy has gone so far that speculation has emerged that Bastoni, due to the unbearable atmosphere, might leave both Inter and Italy and continue his career wearing Barcelona's jersey. Marotta tried to downplay these claims. "I read in the newspapers that it is now almost an obligation for him to leave this jersey and this country, but there is no need for such extremes. Bastoni is an asset to Inter and Italian football. As with all players, we will discuss his future later," concluded the president of the Milan club.