A report in today’s paper edition of the Milano based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has highlighted a potential missed penalty in yesterday’s goalless draw between Inter and Roma.
The report details how, in the 68th minute, striker Lautaro Martinez was closed down by Giallorossi defender Leonardo Spinazzola. The ball hit the Roma defender’s foot and bounced up, hitting the underside of his extended arm. The Nerazzurri immediately protested, but the referee Gianpaolo Calvarese let play go on.
The report touches on how it could still be a penalty, despite the fact that the ball hit Spinazzola’s foot first. However, Calvarese’s decision to wave away the claims was because the defender didn’t extend his arms to impact to play, and instead the ball only hit his arm due to the unpredictable and sudden nature of the bounce.
In similar cases to this, it’s always about the intention more than the actual impact of the ball, the report continues. Spinazzola is running sideways, not in front of Lautaro, and so the referee’s decision is understandable.
