Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano’s failure to send off AC Milan midfielder Rade Krunic against Inter was a “major error.”
This is the contention of today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who criticize the official’s display highlighting that decision in particular.
Manzano was always likely to have a tough assignment taking charge of a Milan derby.
The fact that the city rivalry was contested in a Champions League semifinal made the Spaniard’s job even more difficult.
In the first half, the Gazzetta notes, Manzano was very reluctant to go to his pocket.
The referee let a number of rough challenges go, seeming to want to let play flow.
The newspaper argue that Milan defender Theo Hernandez could have received a yellow card a couple times.
All of Denzel Dumfries, Sandro Tonali, and Edin Dzeko could have also gone into the book.
Eventually, Rossoneri midfielder Krunic did go into the book for protestations, followed by Inter’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Manzano could’ve handled penalty decision better
The Gazzetta argue that the referee did not handle a disallowed penalty incident involving Inter’s Lautaro Martinez ideally.
Initially, Manzano pointed to the spot after the Argentine went down under contact from Milan defender Simon Kjaer.
However, the VAR intervened to rule out the spot kick.
Given that there was very little contact between Kjaer and Martinez, the Gazzetta argue that Manzano shouldn’t have pointed to the spot to begin with.
Milan’s Rade Krunic should’ve seen red
For the Gazzetta, there is no doubt that Rossoneri midfielder Krunic should’ve been sent off during the second half.
Whilst marking Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni on a corner, the Bosnian appeared to punch the 23-year-old.
The motion was not a natural or necessary one, and the newspaper argue it was a clear and unsporting punch.
As such, the Gazzetta argue, Manzano or the VAR ought to have awarded Inter a penalty and sent Krunic off.
