Inter Milan’s match against Fiorentina was marked by controversy when the home team scored the opening goal from a corner kick that should not have been awarded. The incident occurred when Inter’s Bastoni failed to reach a pass from Thuram, with the ball clearly going out of play. However, the referee mistakenly awarded a corner kick to Inter, despite Fiorentina’s immediate protests.
Corriere dello Sport report how the corner kick led to an own goal by Pongracic, giving Inter the lead. This decision sparked debate about the role of VAR in such situations. According to the rules, VAR cannot intervene in this case because the taking of the corner kick initiates a new phase of play, effectively erasing the previous error and making it uncorrectable.
The mistake was likely compounded by the assistant referee’s poor positioning and a possible deflection by Mandragora when the ball was already out of play. This oversight has fueled further controversy, especially following a weekend already marred by contentious refereeing decisions.
The incident highlights the limitations of VAR and raises questions about the consistency of its application in Serie A. It also underscores the ongoing challenges faced by match officials in making split-second decisions that can significantly impact the outcome of games.
