The penalty that was not given last Sunday, when Inter for the third match in a row was affected negatively by an incorrect decision, remains a hot topic of discussion in Italy. Sunday’s referee was Piero Giacomelli has not made any official statements after the game, but according to Gazzetta dello Sport, he said the following to close friends: “In the last minute, it was very tight, and I was therefore attentive to every situation. When I saw the pass to Ranocchia I focused on clarifying whether it was inside or if it stayed outside the penalty area. I ran in that direction, then I lost sight for a second, maybe less. I think there was a player who ran in front of me. When the moment passed, I heard the fans roaring and Ranocchia lay on the ground. How could I blow the whistle…”
When you look at what happened, there are some things of which Giacomelli says that is not true. First, he begins to run only after Ranocchia had been brought down, not before as he says. Something that could be interpreted as if he first intended to make the call, but changed his mind. There is not any player that blocked his sight by running in front of him. He has, in other words, a clear view.
AIA (Associazione Italiana Arbitri), the Italian Association for referees, has not responded regarding Morattis complaints. Stefano Braschi, responsbile for the referees, has admitted that it was a mistake but has also said that “the serious errors are other things.” AIA’s president Marcello Nicchi has not said anything, while FIGC’s president Giancarlo Abete talked about equal rights for players and referees. He uses Miltio Diego, who missed roughly from close range, in his comparison. “People make mistakes. Even a player who stands one meter from the goal does it and is not therefore defined as incompetent or arouse suspicion. Therefore, common sense should also be applied when errors are committed by the referees.”
Milito will be able to play the very next round, while the referee Giacomelli will have to sit out the next two rounds. Even Antonio Cassano is believed to be facing a suspension. As it seems, the Inter number 99 put up a real show dedicated to referee Giacomelli on his way to the dressing room. For him, as for Andrea Stramaccioni (who risks a more severe sentence) everything depends on what the referee writes in his report.
Sources: goal.com, fcinternews.it & calciomercato.com
