Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note that Fabbri only had to whistle for a foul on 21 occasions in what was a very calm derby.
The Milan derby is never a straightforward match to referee. No matter the circumstances.
And if anything, Inter and AC Milan were both primed for a particularly fiery encounter yesterday.
For the Nerazzurri, there is certainly a hunger for revenge. The lost the first two derbies of the season, and then drew in February.
Meanwhile, Milan will feel that the Coppa Italia is the only thing left that can save a season that’s come off the rails somewhat.
In the end, though, there were hardly any real flashpoints in yesterday’s match.
There was one incident between Carlos Augusto and Alex Jimenez. The two players vented their feelings after a particularly physical tussle on the touchline.
Then, Inter defender Francesco Acerbi confronted Jimenez. Considering that Acerbi was warming up as a substitute, he had little right to intervene in this way.
Therefore, Michael Fabbri swiftly brandished a yellow card in the direction of the veteran former Lazio defender.
That was emblematic of the way that the official handled the match overall.
Fabbri aimed to keep things under wraps.
There was also a yellow card for Inter defender Yann Bisseck. This followed a shirt pull on AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.
And as the Gazzetta notes, this was less a response to the severity of the foul by Bisseck, and more a matter of clearly setting a precedent on the part of Fabbri.
