Former Serie A referee Luca Marelli believes Maurizio Mariani made the correct decision not to show Inter defender Francesco Acerbi a red card in their 2-1 win over Cremonese.
The Italy international was booked midway through the first half after bringing down David Okereke to halt a quick Cremonese attack at the Stadio Giovanni Zini yesterday, although the hosts felt that Acerbi had denied a goalscoring opportunity and ought to have been dismissed.
However, whilst appearing as a guest on Italian television broadcaster DAZN after the match, and as reported by L’Interista.it, Marelli argued that the position of fellow defender Alessandro Bastoni meant that the challenge was not sufficient to deny Okereke completely and did not meet the criteria for a red card.
“The doubt was over a yellow or red card. In reality it’s a decision I like, when Acerbi has committed the foul, Bastoni is on the same line as the Cremonese attacker,” Marelli claimed.
“We must not take into account the speed of the two, because we enter into a subjective discourse. Potentially, Bastoni has the possibility of catching up with the attacker.”
However, Marelli suggested that Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu was fortunate to remain on the pitch after reacting to receiving a yellow card for a poor tackle.
“It’s a foul worth a yellow card, the subsequent protest isn’t good. A protest of this kind, after a very clear foul, doesn’t make any sense. It’s so obvious that it could have been punished with a second yellow card.”
Inter had claims for a penalty turned down when Edin Dzeko was challenged by Vlad Chiriches, but Marelli felt that Mariani had made the correct decision in not awarding a spot kick.
“This type of contact has not been whistled all season, it is no coincidence that penalties have decreased. It is a contact between Chiriches’ right leg and Dzeko’s right, who falls easily. In my opinion it is the right call,” he concluded.
