AC Milan have publicly backed head coach Paulo Fonseca following his strong criticism of the officiating in their recent match against Atalanta. The club aligns with Fonseca’s assertion that Charles De Ketelaere’s goal for Atalanta should have been ruled out due to a foul on Theo Hernandez.
Calciomercato report how the controversy stems from a decision made by referee Federico La Penna, who did not penalize De Ketelaere for a foul on Hernandez during the build-up to Atalanta’s opening goal. This incident has sparked significant discussion, with Milan’s management expressing their support for Fonseca amidst the team’s struggles in the league.
Fonseca, visibly frustrated after the match, addressed the media and stated, “I have never spoken about refereeing before, but today we conceded a goal after my player was fouled. I have no doubt that the referee influenced the game against Milan. There is no respect for us at this moment. I am not afraid to speak the truth; I have always respected the work of referees, but every week we lack respect. A situation like De Ketelaere’s foul on Hernandez changes the game, and there are significant errors every week.”
Despite the growing concerns regarding Milan’s performance in the league, the club is keen to avoid using officiating decisions as an excuse for their current standing. Management believes they have provided Fonseca with a strong squad capable of competing for top honors, including the Scudetto.
As Milan navigates this challenging period, all eyes will be on Fonseca to see if he can rally his team and secure a place among the top four in Serie A, which would guarantee Champions League qualification for next season.
