Cesari on the missed penalty in Cagliari: I struggle to understand the decision

According to Graziano Cesari, Inter should have been awarded a penalty during the match against Cagliari. The former referee, speaking on Pressing, analyzed a controversial incident that occurred in the Rossoblù penalty area: after a cross from Dimarco, Lautaro was free to head the ball but was pushed in the back by a Rossoblù defender.

“Obert comes in, has no chance of getting the ball, the push is on the back and so it definitely unbalances him,” explained Cesari. Referee Fabbri was in an optimal position, with no obstacles to his view, but decided not to award the penalty. “Fabbri is well positioned, there is no one who can block his view,” he added.

The former referee then expressed doubts regarding the interpretation of the rules: “Here we go again, the new rules. I find it very hard to understand this, because in the rules there is no such thing as a light push, a little shove, nothing.” According to his reading of the rules, when a player is in the air, in a position of advantage and able to properly play the ball, a push of this kind should be penalized.

“Would it have been a penalty? For me, yes. If this is the line, let’s stick to this line,” concluded Cesari, highlighting how the incident raises questions about the consistency in the application of refereeing rules.