Bastoni & Kalulu incident ‘not good for the game’ – Ex-West Ham midfielder Reo-Coker | OneFootball

Former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has said that the red-card incident in last night’s Derby d’Italia is ‘not good for the game.’

Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu was sent off after receiving a second yellow card after making minimal contact with his arm with Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni.

BARI, ITALY – AUGUST 16: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter during Pre-Season Friendly match between FC Internazionale and Olympiacos FC at Stadio San Nicola on August 16, 2025 in Bari, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Bastoni went down theatrically and the referee had no option but to award Kalulu a second yellow. As VAR cannot currently intervene with yellow cards, the dismissal stood and Inter managed to win the game 3-2.

Reo-Coker on Bastoni & Kalulu incident: ‘Too much cheating & diving in Serie A’

Speaking as a pundit on CBS Sports Golazo after the game, Reo-Coker said:

“Too many players in Serie A right now are cheating with the diving, it’s not good for the game and it’s not good for the future generations watching the game.”

He dismissed the suggestion that coaches should be allowed one ‘challenge’ per game, saying the trust needs to be put in the referees.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Therefore, the former midfielder implied that it is down to the players to start behaving more responsibly, as much as it is for the referees to do their job.