Former Serie A referee feels that decision not to award a penalty for a push on Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella in yesterday evening’s Serie A clash with Empoli was an example of Premier League-style refereeing.
Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, Casarin suggested that the match officiating showed the influence of the English top flight in Serie A.
Barella went down under contact from Empoli’s Filippo Bandinelli late in the first half of their match against Empoli, but referee Gianluca Manganiello was unmoved by the 25-year-old’s theatrical tumble.
There was no doubt that contact had taken place, but the match official’s decision was to see it as nothing more than a physical, 50/50 situation.
Casarin believes that this, as well as other instances in the match, showed the same kind of spirit as the English top flight, where officiating tends towards allowing physicality.
“It’s an English game, the referee adapts,” he writes. “Manganiello hastily awards a penalty to Inter for Parisi’s challenge on Barella. The Empoli defender’s tackle is fine, the VAR Banti intervenes and it’s ruled out.”
Of the next penalty appeal, he writes that “Barella keeps running and then falls extravagantly, even if he is pushed behind, but in an English way, by the Empoli captain.”
“Manganiello reacts to the protests with a smile,” he continues. “In fact the referee maintains his decision.”
He also notes that “Lautaro’s first goal is preceded by contact between Asllani and Barella – this is also English-style play.”
