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.