Referees are scared to give Inter a penalty, claims Moratti

The Nerazzurri honorary president claims his side’s luck with decisions has “become comical” and has talked up potential summer moves for Fernando Torres and Edin Dzeko

Referees have become scared to award Inter penalty kicks this season, according to the club’s honorary president Massimo Moratti.

The Nerazzurri have the unenviable record of winning the fewest spot-kicks and hitting the woodwork the most out of any other side in Serie A, although head coach Walter Mazzarri suggested recently that their bad luck proves they are close to returning to the top of Italian football.

Moratti, however, believes the team’s 32-game run without a penalty has become “comical” and has blamed the officials for not being brave enough to break the statistic.

“The situation has become comical and now we can laugh while talking about it. This happens every Sunday now,” he told Inter News.

“Last season it was the same thing, from the game with Juventus to the end of the campaign. It can happen to any team and it’s an absurd statistic.

“I believe the referees are afraid to award the first penalty in a long time. This holds them back, because it has to be absolutely obvious otherwise they have problems awarding it.”

Inter have been linked with summer moves for Edin Dzeko, Fernando Torres and Alvaro Morata, and Moratti believes one of the experienced Premier League duo could prove a valuable addition to the squad.

“I have to say I don’t know Morata well, while Torres and Dzeko are two strikers who have confirmed their status,” he continued.

“Torres is doing much better than in previous years, while the Citizens forward is a guarantee. Do I have a preference? No, as it depends on the coach and how he’d play them.”

Moratti, who appointed former Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri as Inter coach before Erick Thohir’s takeover of the club, is confident the new owner will get behind the 52-year-old.

“I think Mazzarri is good. Will the club ask me advice? I don’t know, but I do think he will be confirmed in the job.”