AC Milan have found themselves once again on the end of a rather obvious refereeing error that has cost them a result at a crucial moment in the season.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall Milan’s two appeals in yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Bologna. The first was a stamp from Soumaoro on Rebic and the second was a handball from Lucumi, and while the former was a better shout than the latter neither were given.
It is not the first time it has happened this season either. Back on 11 October at San Siro, Siebert sent off Tomori after 20 minutes for a hand placed on Mount’s shoulder and he gave a penalty, with Chelsea going on to win 2-0. It put Milan in a difficult spot in the group, but they did eventually get through.
Back on 8 January against Roma – in the 28th minute of the second half – Saelemaekers kicked a ball into Ibanez’s forearm, inside the Giallorossi area. However, the defender’s arm looked to be attached to his body but there was still debate, with VAR not intervening.
Before the quarter-final first leg against Napoli, Pioli’s team were held again this time against Empoli. In the 54th minute, Theo Hernandez’s run got to the penalty area where Fazzini caught the Frenchman’s Achilles tendon, but Marcenaro did not whistle for the penalty and no review was called for.
Then of course there was the first leg versus Napoli in which there were two good penalty shouts: the first when Krunic was hauled to the floor by Rrahmani during the corner and the second when Saelemaekers was caught by Lobotka.
The players need to charge and surround the ref. They must manipulate him or at least make him double check with var. It also puts pressure on var team as the event will be highlighted.
It’s ugly but it’s how it works
This is true. I often watch Inter players (at least last season) do this kind of thing. They often pressurize and ‘stop’ the game ’till the referee does the double check.
There’s no controversy. Those were barely borderline penalties and we would have complained if they were given against us. It’s disappointing that some players were looking for soft penalties instead of instead of focusing on creating chances. I’ve noticed Salemakers doing it a lot recently. To do that against a ten man Napoli and a Bologna side we were dominating is sad. Pobega was the only bright spot yesterday in terms of effort, mentality, and end product.
The stomp on rebic’s foot is clear as the day no way around it. Ballo toure was also clearly pulled backwards before the bologna goal and regardless if you consider them soft penalities they are in fact against the ruleset. The handball is maybe a softer one depending on the interpretation of the act but both that one and the first one should have at the bare minimum been video checked by the ref but var room failed in both instances,