Former Serie A referee Graziano Cesari believes that there was a clear foul in the buildup to AC Milan’s opening goal against Atalanta in yesterday evening’s 2-0 win.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, Cesari gave the view that Rossoneri defender Pierre Kalulu brought down Matteo Pessina to win back the ball, although he suggested that it was an easy error for the referee to make.
Milan took the lead just before the hour mark at the San Siro, in a match which had been tense and low on chances, after a quick counter was ruthlessly finished off by Rafael Leao.
The quick break was started off when the Rossoneri gained possession of the ball following a challenge by Kalulu on Pessina, although the Atalanta players and coach Gian Piero Gasperini immediately appealed for a foul to be given.
Match official Daniele Orsato did not award a foul, and confirmed the goal was given, though Cesari feels that the referee erred in this instance.
“Orsato tells Gasperini that in his view the contact is not enough to give a foul,” he explained, “but there’s definitely something there.”
“Kalulu’s leg impedes Pessina from getting past so it’s a foul,” Cesari argued. “It’s an understandable error to make.”
