AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud made a fair challenge to win the ball from Inter forward Alexis Sanchez in the buildup to the Rossoneri’s equalizer in yesterday evening’s derby, according to Italian media.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport argue that despite the physical nature of the challenge, it was not a foul and referee Marco Guida was correct to wave play on.
Giroud went in forcefully to win the ball from Sanchez, who was attempting to keep possession in a tight space to play past Milan’s incessant pressure.
The Frenchman won the ball, but in the process also looked to have barged into the Nerazzurri forward, leading to protests from the Inter players after he went on to score from the ensuing move.
However, in the view of Tuttosport, it was the right decision for Guida not to whistle for a foul, as even with the physicality of the challenge the ball was cleanly won initially, and so there was no issue with the goal.