Referee Giovanni Ayroldi has come in for criticism after his performance taking charge of Inter’s Serie A clash with Bologna yesterday evening.
Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport argue that the Italian referee was not perfect in his officiating of the match, highlighting in particular not to award Inter a penalty for a foul on Denzel Dumfries late in the contest.
Dumfries was bursting through on goal with the ball on his feet when a challenge from behind by Rossoblu defender Gary Medel brought him to the ground, leading to strenuous appeals from the Dutchman.
Given that Medel did not appear to get any contact on the ball, rather shoving Dumfries’s left leg, and given that the Inter wing-back looked to be clear on goal with only keeper Lukasz Skorupski to beat, the Corriere argue that Ayroldi should have pointed to the spot.
In the end, the decision would never have had much significance to the outcome of the contest, with the Nerazzurri already in a 6-1 lead with only minutes to play, but the referee’s decision not to award a spot kick has nevertheless come under scrutiny.
