Marelli on Thuram: “It was a penalty, VAR should have intervened on Mariani’s oversight”

A contact in the box between Viery and Thuram sparked debate during Inter–Fiorentina. The Viola defender, with his thigh extended, brought down the Nerazzurri striker in Fiorentina‘s penalty area: referee Mariani seemed inclined to blow the whistle, but in the end let play continue. On DAZN, refereeing expert Marelli spoke about the incident immediately after it happened.

“This is a penalty — Marelli said to DAZN’s microphones —. And this is a problem that will have to be addressed sooner or later. Because it’s similar to the one in Bologna, the one with Darmian. Viery is late on Thuram, I understand the very high threshold, but this is a clear mistake.”

Marelli’s analysis went into detail about the technical gesture: “Thuram got there first, Viery extended his right leg towards the opponent, there is contact which will be anticipated. But in this case the penalty should have been awarded and VAR should have intervened because it’s an oversight by Mariani.”

According to the expert’s reconstruction, therefore, it was a clear infraction, which would also have required the VAR room to intervene and correct the referee’s decision.