Controversy in the Italian Derby
The high stakes were clear as AC Milan faced Inter Milan in a Serie A clash that ended in a 1-1 draw. Amidst the tension of this iconic derby, the spotlight shifted towards the VAR system and its questionable decisions. Refereeing expert Graziano Cesari has taken a firm stand, criticizing the failure to award Inter Milan a clear penalty during the match.
The incident that stirred up such uproar happened in the 73rd minute. Inter’s striker, Marcus Thuram, was in a promising position when he got tripped by Milan’s defender, Strahinja Pavlovic, inside the box. The contact was as obvious as it gets, landing squarely on Thuram's shin, yet it went strangely unnoticed by referee Daniele Chiffi and the VAR team, including seasoned official Di Paolo.
Missed Penalty Sparks Frustrations
Instead of addressing Pavlovic’s clear foul, the officials zeroed in on a subsequent challenge by Milan's Theo Hernandez, which was clean. According to Cesari, Pavlovic's foul was the primary concern and should have been addressed first, stating bluntly that there were “no excuses” for missing such an evident infringement.
The controversy didn’t sit well with Inter Milan's coach, Simone Inzaghi, who was visibly frustrated by what he described as the “fourth or fifth” unfair decision against his team this season. It reflects a consistent theme of dissatisfaction with decisions impacting the outcome of crucial matches.
Marcus Thuram didn’t hold back when briefly commenting post-match, asserting, “You all saw it,” referring to the apparent foul that went unpenalized. His remarks resonated with many fans and analysts who have watched, astounded, as the incident unfolded.
In the end, it was Stefan de Vrij's stoppage-time goal that salvaged a point for Inter. But the broader debate this match rekindled was that of VAR consistency in Serie A, leaving both clubs and their passionate fan bases eager for improvements to the system.
Write a comment