The recent weekend in Serie A has been marred by a series of controversial refereeing decisions, reigniting the debate over the effectiveness of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. From questionable red cards to disputed penalties, the Italian top flight has seen a flurry of contentious moments that have left clubs, players, and fans frustrated.
Calciomercato detail how one of the most talked-about incidents occurred during the Milan-Udinese match, where Reijnders received a red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, despite seemingly attempting to avoid contact with Lovric. This decision, along with a disallowed Udinese goal for a marginal offside, has raised questions about the interpretation of rules and the use of VAR.
In the Juventus-Lazio fixture, Romagnoli’s red card for a sliding tackle on Kalulu sparked further controversy. Initially deemed a fair challenge by the on-field referee, VAR intervention led to the defender’s dismissal. Lazio’s frustration was compounded by the lack of VAR review for an apparent off-the-ball elbow by Douglas Luiz on Patric, which many argued warranted a red card.
Napoli’s match against Empoli saw a contentious penalty awarded for a supposed foul on Politano, despite recent directives from refereeing authorities to only give penalties for clear and certain fouls. This decision prompted Empoli’s sporting director to question the consistency of penalty decisions in light of recent guidelines.
The Roma-Inter clash added to the weekend’s refereeing woes when Cristante escaped a red card for a challenge on Thuram. The incident, which appeared more severe than some of the weekend’s other dismissals, went unpunished, highlighting concerns about the lack of uniformity in decision-making.
These incidents have led to calls for reform, with Lazio’s sporting director even suggesting the abolition of VAR. He argued that the current implementation lacks consistency and is causing “unspeakable damage” to Italian football.
