Serie A’s refereeing designator Nicola Rizzoli today admitted it was always likely there would be confusion after new handball rules were introduced.
The International Football Association Board modified the law this summer to create a more hard-line interpretation, a move many have suggested lacks common sense.
Inter will play their first competitive match with the new regulations when they face Lecce at San Siro this evening.
Asked about a penalty awarded to Fiorentina for a handball infringement in their defeat to Napoli on Saturday, Rizzoli told Radio Rai 1: “Change is always a little scary for some.
“Those changes which have taken place are designed to make football as fair as possible and easier to understand.
“We need to be clearer, because it’s undeniable there will be a bit of confusion to start with. The handball rule is the biggest change this summer and we’ll need time to get consistency with decisions.
“Until we’ve adapted to the new rules and understood them better it will be more difficult. But these changes to the rules need to be understood better by everyone.”
Rizzoli did not deny there were a series of refereeing mistakes during this weekend’s week one matches, with many outraged at a penalty awarded to Napoli for a supposed foul on Dries Mertens.
He added: “It’s clear for all to see that there were some errors. They’re part of being a referee and when they happen you need to admit them and understand why they happened.
“It’s like a Grand Prix, in the sense that when you try to do something more you run the risk of crashing.
“Something didn’t work properly between the referee and VAR in Fiorentina-Napoli. It’s a mistake we must recognise, correct and ensure does not happen again.”
Rizzoli said referee Davide Massa and video assistant Paolo Valeri were the first to be ‘disappointed’ about their mishap at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, but he refused to confirm whether they would be suspended as a result.
He concluded: “For sure a coach plays those players who are most in form, while those who have injuries must recover in the best way possible.
“We’ll put referees in the conditions to officiate matches as best they can. We need to analyse their physical and psychological state.”