Roberto Mancini accuses Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri of being 'homophobic' and 'racist' after spat

'Am I homophobic? That seems over the top. I was just irritable'

(Getty Images)

Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini has accused Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri of using homophobic language during a touchline row.

The former Manchester City also claimed his fellow Italian was "a racist" after Inter won their Coppa Italia quarter-final 2-0.

Mancini, who was later sent to the stands, claimed that Sarri shouted "p**f" and "f****t" at him.

"In England, someone like him wouldn't even be allowed on the touchline," Mancini told Rai Sport.

However, Sarri denied he was homophobic, saying: "Am I homophobic? That seems over the top. I was just irritable."

Maurizio Sarri denied he was homophobic (Getty Images)

Internazionale booked their semi-final place thanks to goals from Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic.

"I went to find Sarri in the locker room and he apologised, but I want him to be ashamed of what he said," added Mancini.

"People like him cannot be in football. If not, it never gets better."

Internazionale won 2-0 (Getty Images)

Sarri, 57, claimed to not remember exactly what he had said and that he had "heard worse" on a football pitch.

"These are things that should end on the field," Sarri told Rai Sport. "I apologised to him, but I expect him to apologise, too. A fight on the pitch should end after 10 seconds.

"I was fired up and angry, so I'm not sure what I said. I will admit it wasn't the right tone to take.

"I was not discriminating against anyone. If I did indeed use those words, then I apologise to the gay community."