The game between AC Milan and Torino at San Siro last night had more drama than just the late comeback, as there were a couple of controversial moments involving the officiating.
This morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) has given the referee Fabio Maresca and his assistants a score of 5 out of 10 in their ratings from the 2-2 draw, and it is for one error above all.
What the newspaper are contesting in Maresca is not so much the episode linked to Torino’s first goal, because in that case the referee was betrayed by the fact that Goal Line Technology did not work for his watch, but rather the error committed on the occasion of the penalty awarded.
Maresca pointed to a spot kick for Milan after an alleged foul by Saul Coco on Alvaro Morata, though this was later revoked through consultation with the VAR screen. The replays showed the defender had taken the ball cleanly, even if on the follow through there was contact with the striker.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews) speaks of an ’embarrassing technological silence’ for Torino’s first goal, where the game played on which made fans think that Malick Thiaw had successfully cleared Bellanova’s header off the line, only for the game to stop 30 seconds later.
They also state that Maresca was betrayed by the Goal Line Technology, which did not make his watch vibrate. Several angles showed that the ball had crossed the line, and that is why the game was then stopped and the goal was awarded, much to the confusion of players and fans.
It’s not a penalty, Morata purposely delayed his right foot which he could have hit the ball and make contact with Torino defender but the Defender touch the ball and not Morata’s leg.
The ref decision was accurate 💯
Milan need a more physical striker presence in the box not one that throw himself on the ground everytime. Football hs changed VAR have all the time to verify any incident on like before.
Ahh but the referee DID award the penalty, which was a wrong call. Only VAR fixed the error of the referee by telling him to go back to look at it.
The referee still made a mistake there.
I was disappointed with Morata who could have scored instead of looking for contact to get a penalty. I don’t understand why these players nowadays do that instead trying to score a goal.
He could have opened up his body and use his right foot or shoot with his left. He would have had a better chance at scoring than getting a penalty. Unbelievable.
Video game mentality.
They think every goal has to be a nice curler or a hard driller. Dont understand why more footballers just dont toe poke it in the penalty area..its easy to control and you can shoot really hard standing still without any motion of you upper body.
We cannot justify how many times Morata faked a foul. He could have tried to make contact with ball rather with defender.
Referee decisions were clear, nothing wrong in it.
Agree. But that was not what i was saying mate.
You are right, but in this specific case I think Morata could have taken the shot before the defender got close enough to slide. Morata receives the ball at the right pace and on his left foot could have taken the shot in the first instance. Instead he choses to control it with the outside of his right foot, which actually closes the angle AND allows the defender to catch up with the play. Easier said than done to hit it one time, but I feel like that was the better choice over taking a touch in this case.
Thiaw being right under the post probably blocked the goal line technology from initially working accordingly and the penalty given was rightly revoked imo. Embarrassments and betrayals, the officiating was great. Why rating them 5, the same as the worst Milan player’s ratings
Well said
From what I could judge there was no penalty, at all. Morata clearly dives a lot and also did it in that situation.
I disagree that this was a dive. There was contact. Look at Morata’s right calf. The defender’s thigh clearly makes contact with it. The issue is: Does this contact happen before he toe pokes it away, or after, or at the same time? It seems the refs have judged it to have been one of the latter two, which then makes it not a penalty. I personally think that the defender contacts Morata’s leg a split second before the ball, but it’s so close that it’s really subject to interpretation.
Thiaw looked like a klutz! Hasn’t really shown any improvement or growth since his debut season …
Yep. He’s like a giraffe on skates.