Viery-Thuram, the Corriere dello Sport slow-motion review: denied penalty, Mariani stopped and Fabbri in the spotlight

The episode that sparked the refereeing debate comes from the match between Inter and Fiorentina, with the teams at 0-1: Viery brings down Thuram inside the penalty area, but referee Mariani does not blow the whistle and VAR remains silent. According to the analysis by Corriere dello Sport, this is a very serious incident, with all those involved being unequivocally failed.

The newspaper’s reconstruction is precise. Thuram manages to break free from his marker, but the opponent extends his right leg, hitting Thuram’s left leg. Mariani raises the whistle to his mouth and points to the spot: however, the whistle never comes, remaining just an intention and, according to the Corriere, stopped by assistant Christian Rossi. Fabbri at VAR, for his part, does not intervene: the newspaper describes his attitude as Pontius Pilate-like and calls the silence from Lissone “very serious.”

The analysis continues with other incidents from the match. In the duel between Valdepeñas and Thuram, the Inter player manages to get away, and the opponent, already beaten, turns his back to the incoming ball and grabs onto the Inter player: this too, according to the analysis, is more than just a simple risk. Dragusin then grabs Thuram with both hands and brings him down.

On the other side, the newspaper highlights Mastantuono’s shot with Bastoni keeping his right arm close to his body, and the touch by Esposito with Pongracic’s left hand held in a natural position and close to his body. For Fabbri at VAR, Corriere dello Sport gives a 4.5 rating with the comment: “Disastrous.”