Serie A referee designator Gianluca Rocchi slammed Livio Marinelli for awarding a contentious penalty to AC Milan on Sunday night.
During his brief interview with DAZN via FCInterNews, Rocchi delivered his verdict on a dubious call that decided the match against Fiorentina.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side overhauled a second-half deficit in a controversial 2-1 home victory over La Viola.
Indeed, the Rossoneri bounced back from a goal down as Rafael Leao netted a match-winning brace.
However, Milan received decisive help from referee Livio Marinelli.
Despite refusing to point to the spot at first glance, Marinelli changed his decision after consulting with the VAR booth.
Rosario Abisso urged his colleague to review the incident inside Fiorentina’s 18-yard box.
Though there was a minor contact between Fabiano Parisi and Santiago Gimenez, it wasn’t enough for a penalty.
Yet, Abisso intervened from the VAR room, convincing Marinelli to give the Rossoneri another ‘soft’ penalty.
In doing so, he helped Allegri’s team leapfrog Inter Milan in the standings, going one point clear at the summit.
“It’s not a penalty and not a VAR issue,” Gianluca Rocchi was adamant.
“If it’s a penalty, it’s a penalty; if it’s not, it’s not. Never a foul and never a VAR issue.”
Though Rocchi was clear, it won’t help Inter and other Scudetto contenders much.
Furthermore, Marinelli’s decision denied Fiorentina a point at San Siro, leaving Stefano Pioli on the brink of an early dismissal.
Meanwhile, Lega Calcio will probably suspend Marinelli and Abisso for Match Day 8.
Also, it’s hard to exclude the possibility of a lengthier suspension, with the duo expected to miss the midweek round next week.
Nonetheless, it was another example of the notorious double standards in Serie A.
Abisso was also in the VAR booth when Inter lost 4-3 to Juventus last month.
However, he refused to sanction Khephren Thuram over a similar foul on Ange-Yoan Bonny, which decided the game in Turin.
