The VAR ‘should not have intervened’ for the penalty awarded to AC Milan against Fiorentina, confirmed the Italian Referees’ Association, as footage reveals what was discussed.
The incident caused a great deal of controversy and proved decisive for a 2-1 victory at San Siro on Sunday.
Referee Livio Marinelli had initially let play continue after Fabiano Parisi had a hand on Santiago Gimenez’s shoulder, but changed his mind and awarded a penalty after he was called over for the On-Field Review.
Many pundits noted that this was stretching ‘clear and obvious error’ to the absolute limit, and former referee Andrea De Marco agreed when analysing the footage on DAZN’s Open VAR programme.
“In this case, Marinelli had evaluated the situation correctly on the field and when the intensity is so small, the referee should be allowed to make that evaluation himself,” said AIA representative De Marco.
“With the threshold for penalties that Gianluca Rocchi is setting for this season, we would not give this as a penalty. If the referee had the sensation on the field that it was sufficient for a penalty, VAR would not have intervened to have it removed. Either way, this was a decision that was down to the referee.”
Fiorentina coach Stefano Pioli also said after the match that giving spot-kicks like this would reward the simulation of players, feeling that Gimenez had gone down clutching his face when the contact was barely on his neck.
“Gimenez does make a meal of that and we’ve seen a lot of this attitude from players this season, who when they feel a slight touch, pretend they suffered a violent impact,” added De Marco.
“Rocchi was very clear on this and the commission is studying how we can punish situations like this, because there has to be respect on the field.
“This kind of behaviour needs to be eliminated from the game. You will see a definite clampdown on similar situations from next weekend.”
Open VAR also allows DAZN to play the footage and audio that the VAR team discussed with the referee in order to reach a decision.
Immediately after the contact between Parisi and Gimenez, referee Marinelli is heard stating: “No, not for me. He has his arm raised, but that’s it…”
VAR Rosario Abisso and his assistant VAR Aleandro Di Paolo then discuss the footage.
“It’s in his face and he feels it too. It is a gratuitous gesture, first he gets him in the face, then he holds on to him too. Parisi is the player, I recommend an On-Field Review for penalty.
You can see the hand on the face and there is a tug as well. As there is a blow to the face, it can also warrant a disciplinary sanction.”
