Former Serie A referee Graziano Cesari feels that referee Daniele Doveri got the major penalty decisions right in the first half of Inter’s Supercoppa Italiana win over Juventus.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, Cesari stated that the Nerazzurri’s penalty to equalize was a correct decision, while he also felt that the challenge between Giorgio Chiellini and Nicolo Barella was not a spot kick.
The first contentious incident occurred when Barella touched the ball past Bianconeri defender Chiellini and the defender appeared to make contact with his foot, with the Nerazzurri player going down.
Doveri waved it away and had his decision confirmed by VAR, though the Nerazzurri players felt that a spot kick ought to have been awarded.
Inter did get the decision that they were hoping for when Bianconeri defender Mattia De Sciglio went in on Edin Dzeko with a clumsy challenge, and Doveri had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Of the first incident, Cesari stated that “Doveri is not in the greatest position to see it, the VAR check took little time.”
“Barella’s foot goes into that of Chiellini,” he added, “who then collides into him with his knee. If Doveri had seen that I’m certain he would have given a free kick Juve’s way.”
And of the second incident, he stated that “Dzeko does well to get in front of De Sciglio, who takes him out. Very clear penalty.”
