Rocchi on Verona-Juve: "Tudor's right, but tone it down or it'll turn into a brawl."
Joao Mario 's penalty in Verona-Juve "wasn't a penalty," Orban "should have been a red card" for elbowing Gatti , Bologna's penalty against Genoa was also correct, even though it was a "complex decision," and finally, in Napoli-Pisa, it was a mistake not to award a penalty to the Tuscans for De Bruyne's foul in Leris, preceded by a handball by the Pisa player. These are the thoughts of Gianluca Rocchi , referee designator for Serie A and B, on the most controversial incidents on the final day of the championship. "It was a week in which we could have done better, honestly...", Rocchi admitted to "Open Var" on DAZN .
The penalty in Bologna-GenoaThe first case analyzed was the penalty awarded to the home team in Bologna vs. Genoa in injury time for a handball by Carboni. After a lengthy consultation at the monitor, referee Collu decided to award the penalty, which Orsolini converted, giving Italiano's team the victory. "The instinctive movement towards the ball makes the arm attack punishable. A complex decision, difficult to accept. The work they did in the VAR room and the announcement were well-done," said Rocchi.
The bulk of the controversy revolved around Verona-Juve . Two incidents were in focus: the penalty awarded to the Venetians and the missed red card for Orban . Regarding the penalty awarded by referee Rapuano to Joao Mario via a review (VAR Aureliano, assisted by Massa), Rocchi explained: “The decision is incorrect, it's not a penalty. The dynamics of the action do not justify the punishment for Joao Mario's arm; the player goes to try to head it and the low ball hits his arm. Incorrect on-field review.” The assessment of Orban's elbow on Gatti was also incorrect. “In this case, the red card should have been given; the player looked at his opponent, which is another reason to go off the hook. It should have been given on-field; VAR and AVAR handled the matter too quickly.” Both incidents provoked a harsh reaction from Tudor after the match. Rocchi is addressing the Juventus manager himself: "In Orban's case, he's right, but I'd like the correct terms to be used; excessive tones aren't the right thing to do. I'm asking for cooperation, otherwise it'll turn into a row."
Rapuano was demoted to Serie B: "How do I evaluate players after mistakes? We're always very strict," the referee explained. "Here, even though we have a VAR that's among the best and has made mistakes, it happens. We suspend players for disciplinary reasons, not technical ones. And meritocracy counts anyway."
Finally, on Napoli vs. Pisa, referee Crezzini with Mazzoleni at the VAR, where Leris was fouled by De Bruyne , but the foul was disallowed for a previous handball by the same Pisa winger. "A support arm is never punishable," says Rocchi, "in attack or defense. VAR and VAR are misled by slow motion. If the Pisa player had scored, then it would have been disallowed. Here, the on-field review was correct, but it was a penalty for the foul. The penalty for Beukema's arm? The arm was already open, not naturally. True, there was a deflection, but the defender increased the size of his body. In this case, the right decision was made on the pitch."
La Repubblica
