AC Milan are preparing to face Lazio as we speak, this time at Stadio Olimpico after winning the reverse fixture at San Siro by the odd goal. It was a game that offered us an iconic VAR moment, some would say.
Milan and Lazio have faced each other twice this season and both games ended 1-0, first in favour of the Rossoneri and then the Biancocelesti (the Coppa Italia Round of 16). Tomorrow’s game is thus bound to be a tight one as well, or at least if the trend continues.
In games when a team is up by one goal in the final minutes, there often tends to be some drama. That was definitely the case in the reverse fixture as Lazio appealed for a penalty after a handball on Strahinja Pavlovic.
The referee, Giuseppe Collu, was asked to take a look at the VAR screen but before he could do so, he had to send off Massimiliano Allegri for some well-chosen words. Then, when assessing the situation, the referee looked for a long time as there was a potential foul on Pavlovic.
As he stepped onto the pitch to announce his decision, it seemed as if a penalty was going to be awarded based on his first words. “After review, the player with No.31 has his arm extended from the body…”
Then came the wonderful words, which changed everything (at that point, some of the Lazio players were already celebrating): “But first, he receives a foul from player No.77 Marusic”.
So, was it the right call? Yes and no. It was later deemed that Pavlovic’s arm was in a natural position, also because he was close to the shot, and that there was no foul by Marusic. The right decision was made but in the wrong way, as such.
