Just a couple of borderline episodes, some cleverly edited frames, and the classic refereeing controversy erupts on social media even after Inter‘s comeback victory over Como in the Coppa Italia. Controversy, once again, stirred up over nothing because, as refereeing expert Maurizio Russo explains in the Calciomercato.it analysis, the officiating in the second leg of the semifinal was approved: “The main players are Acerbi and Douvikas. The Larians complain about the lack of a red card for the Nerazzurri defender for a holding foul in the twentieth minute, with Sozza instead calling a foul in attack. In fact, the first to commit an infraction is the Greek striker. In any case, one of the four elements for DOGSO was missing, since the general direction of the action was not towards the goal, so at most it would have been a yellow for SPA”.
Russo then adds: “Six minutes later Acerbi pulls down Douvikas in the box. It looks like a penalty, but Sozza, with his view blocked, lets play continue. Doveri at the VAR does not call him back because from the rear camera angle he realizes that the holding is mutual. Finally, on Calhanoglu’s first goal, Bonny is in an offside position geographically, but the Inter striker is on the ground and does not affect Butez’s line of sight. It would have been different if he had gotten up. The controversy, especially on social media, will continue, but AIA has already approved the refereeing team’s performance”.
