Porto coach Sérgio Conceição refused to shake hands with his Inter counterpart Simone Inzaghi after a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Do Dragao on Tuesday, which allowed the Nerazzurri to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals.
It’s the first time in 12 years that the Benamata manage to go beyond the Round of 16 of Europe’s elite competition. Inter had won the reverse fixture at the Stadio Meazza 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Romelu Lukaku.
Their former winger Conceição, now in charge of Porto, was embittered after the final whistle on Tuesday and refused to shake hands with Inzaghi.
Il Corriere dello Sport explains that the former Portugal international may not have noticed the Italian tactician approaching him and quickly walked inside the tunnel after the game.
There was tension before, during and after the game, with over 1,0000 Inter fans not allowed inside the stadium as they had purchased tickets for the home sections of the Estadio Do Dragao.
“I also want to spare a thought for circa a thousand fans left outside the stadium even after regularly purchasing a ticket. This was unexpected and obviously we will make a formal complaint to UEFA to have a clear picture of what happened,” said the Nerazzurri director.
“I saw footage of families who were locked outside, children crying who had flown here from Italy. Football must represent unity and joy, so this is a bitter page in what was otherwise a wonderful evening.