Lautaro Martinez plea bargain for blasphemy sparks more controversy | OneFootball

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has officially agreed a plea bargain with the Italian football authorities over a blasphemous phrase, leading to demands the controversial rule be changed or scrapped.

The incident hit the headlines after the 1-0 defeat to Juventus on February 16 when Lautaro Martinez was caught on camera potentially uttering the banned phrase, which in the Italian language is the worst possible kind of swearing.

He denied it vehemently, an investigation was inconclusive, prompted by suggestions there would be further analysis of different footage.

If it had been confirmed, then Lautaro Martinez would’ve been given a one-match Serie A ban, even going into the Scudetto showdown with Napoli on March 1.

Lautaro Martinez verdict only raises more questions

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Today it was confirmed that the Argentina international had worked out a plea bargain with the Disciplinary Commission, paying €5,000 in fines.

The wording of the plea bargain has raised even more questions, as it states the blasphemous phrase was “evident from the television footage, which was fully documented and guaranteed.”

If this is the case, then why was Lautaro Martinez allowed to work out a plea bargain when other players were simply banned?

The rule inflicting a ban for uttering words has in itself already caused controversy, but this framing will make it seem entirely anachronistic.