Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic should have been shown a straight red card for a challenge on Sassuolo attacker Gregoire Defrel during yesterday’s match at the Mapei Stadium.
This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who argue that the contact made by the Nerazzurri captain on the Neroverdi man was sufficient for a foul and a red card to be awarded but that Luca Pairetto made the wrong decision in waving play on.
Defrel was given the chance to control the ball and run straight at the Nerazzurri keeper after an underhit backpass by Nerazzurri defender Stefan de Vrij, with Handanovic rushing off his line in the hope of stopping the situation from resulting in a goal.
The Neroverdi man poked the ball away from the Inter captain, and then a collision saw the pair fall to the ground and the attacker’s progress impeded.
For the Corriere, the contact made on Defrel by Handanovic’s foot and elbow were enough to bring the attacker’s progress to a halt, and should have seen the keeper given a red card for committing the foul as the last defender stopping a goal-scoring opportunity.
The newspaper give Pairetto a grade of 4/10 for his performance, highlighting the incident between Handanovic and Defrel as one in which the official seemed unwilling to make the decision he should have on the pitch.
