😳 VAR and chaos: Italy has its fair share of referee drama too 🇮🇹

Chaos and refereeing controversies are not exclusive to the Spanish league. The 19th matchday of Serie A is marked by several refereeing episodes that have sparked outrage in Napoli and Lazio.

What happened in the Napoli-Hellas Verona and Lazio-Fiorentina matches are the most striking examples of a league day marked by penalties and disallowed goals that have fueled protests and anger from both clubs.

The post-match, in fact, is filled with controversies and analyses of the decisions that influenced the results of the two matches, both ending with a 2-2 draw.

🧨 "Does Højlund have to amputate his arm?"

After the draw between Napoli and Hellas, Antonio Conte appeared before the DAZN microphones and focused on the disallowed goal by Højlund.

"They disallowed Højlund's goal and I don't know where he was supposed to have that arm. These are subjective assessments by those in the VAR, we have to accept them and we do. What is he supposed to do with that arm? Amputate it?"

🔍 Valentini-Buongiorno Contact

Napoli also protests the penalty awarded to Hellas Verona for Buongiorno's handball.

The one analyzing the plays is Luca Marelli, the former referee who analyzes these types of actions on DAZN Italy:

"There is a clash in the area between the two players, there is a hand touch by Buongiorno. The hand is in an open position, but we must consider Valentini's movement, initially correct because he jumps, but then the right arm impacts the defender. It's not just a simple contact, but an arm that, between the neck and shoulder, also impacts quite hard on Buongiorno."

Marelli adds: "The on-field review can make sense, but the best decision would have been to review and call a foul in favor of Napoli for Valentini's foul on Buongiorno."

‼️ Penalty? No, VALENTINI's FOUL

Few doubts from the newspapers in the review.

For La Gazzetta dello Sport, it's Valentini who commits the foul:

"In the 24th minute, a penalty is awarded to Verona after a long review. Buongiorno has his arm high, in a punishable position, when he touches the ball, which, however, is in dispute with Valentini, who commits a foul (hit on the neck) on the Napoli player as he jumps. More than a penalty, it seems like a foul in favor of the locals."

This version is also shared by Corriere dello Sport:

"In the area, Buongiorno touches the ball with his left hand (fist), well above the shoulder line, a textbook penalty, to be shown in refereeing schools. Or rather, no, better not. Because it would have to be explained that there is a quite clear foul by Valentini before, who yes, jumps first, higher, but when falling knocks down Buongiorno with his right arm between face, neck, and chest, also just on the left side of the azzurro. After the OFR, in the announcement, we would have expected a 'penalty, but before a foul by No. 6, etc., etc.' Nothing of that sort..."

💥 THE TWO controversies in Lazio-Fiorentina

The duel between Lazio and Fiorentina also did not lack controversies due to referee Sozza's decisions.

What sparked the anger of the biancocelesti was the uncalled penalty for the Gila-Pongracic contact and the one awarded at the end to the visitors for the Gila-Gudmundsson contact.

💣 "Gila-Pongracic? INEXPLICABLE. Gud, SMALL PENALTY"

Marelli intervenes again on the episodes before the DAZN microphones. On the contact between Gila and Pongracic, he says:

"I struggle to understand why the VAR did not intervene. It's okay that the referee was blocked, but the VAR? The two players hold each other, then Gila releases the opponent and is held with the left hand by Pongracic. There is a penalty to be called. I struggle to explain why the VAR did not intervene and also missed the yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct."

On the penalty awarded for the Gila-Gudmundsson contact, Marelli is blunt:

"Contact between Gila and Gudmundsson: in the first action, there is no strong entry by Gila; then, with the supporting leg, the Spaniard touches him very lightly. In my view, this is a review and also poorly done. The contact is really minimal."

"We've been saying for years that 'small penalties' should not be called, and then we grant these penalties. I see no reason to call this penalty; such contact can never lead to a penalty."

😡 Sozza "SHAMEFUL"

For La Gazzetta dello Sport, the one by Pongracic on Gila is a penalty:

"A penalty is missing for Lazio. Gila is held by the shirt by Pongracic in the area. The intensity of the contact is punishable, the referee does not consider it a foul (or does not see it?). The VAR confirms the decision on the field. Penalty for Fiorentina: Gudmundsson's leg is open and Gila's is close to the body. The dynamic leads to contact. Many doubts."

Corriere dello Sport is harsh:

"Shameful. Which is not only the adjective used by Luca Pellegrini in the tunnel to describe the uncalled penalty on Gila but the summary of Sozza's performance (it's hard to remember he's international, at the mercy of events) and especially the VAR, Pezzuto (we've always said, even to Rocchi: someone who wasn't a great referee on the field can't be a phenomenon in Lissone)."

"As said, a clear penalty is missing for Lazio. In Fiorentina's area, a ball directed at the goal is intercepted by Fagioli, who leaves it for Gila, who has an advantage over Pongracic after winning the position: free ball, ready to be shot, but from behind the viola defender pulls his shirt (which stretches very evidently), causing Gila to lose time and balance. Penalty to be seen live, but Sozza —sleeps—. Okay, let the VAR (Pezzuto) handle it: nothing of that sort, 'good night everyone'. Didn't we say enough with the small penalties? Gila enters on Gudmundsson, there is a very slight contact on the right foot. Called on the field, it would have been debatable. But Pezzuto, who did nothing in the face of a massive shirt pull, what does he do? Calls for the OFR. And Sozza falls."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 CARLO HERMANN - AFP or licensors