Referee Massimiliano Irrati got his handling of yesterday’s Coppa Italia final between Inter Milan and Fiorentina spot-on.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who argue that the official got all the major decisions right in a match which saw the Nerazzurri claim their second Coppa Italia on the bounce against La Viola with a 2-1 win.
Irrati was always likely to have his hands full with yesterday’s match.
So it proved, as there were a few flashpoints. However, in the view of Tuttosport, the referee did his job well.
Irrati Got Major Decisions Right In Inter vs Fiorentina
First, there was a potential incident where Inter claimed that Viola keeper Pietro Terracciano had picked up a backpass.
The 33-year-old rushed to grab the ball ahead of Inter striker Edin Dzeko to prevent the Bosnian from having a scoring chance.
Given that the ball had come off the feet of Fiorentina midfielder Gaetano Castrovilli, Inter appealed Irrati.
However, in the view of Irrati, it was not a deliberate backpass. Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni had tried to play in Dzkeo over the top, and Castrovilli got to the ball first. The midfielder’s touch was therefore interpreted as a challenge and not as a pass to the keeper.
Tuttosport concur with the assessment of Irrati in this instance.
Then, there was a penalty appeal made by Fiorentina winger Riccardo Sottil in the second half. Sottil felt that Denzel Dumfries had fouled him as he tried to score with a diving header.
Irrati waved away the appeal, and Tuttosport take the view that he was right to.
Yellow Card Decisions Also Correct
The newspaper also argue that Irrati got all the yellow card decisions right.
The official issued three yellow cards. These were to Alessandro Bastoni for a foul on Nico Gonzalez, Lucas Martinez Quarta for a foul from behind on Edin Dzeko, and then for Gonzalez for a foul on Robin Gosens to stop a counter.
In the view of Tuttosport these were all correct decisions.
Conversely, the newspaper argues that Irrati was correct not to issue a yellow card to Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat on Nicolo Barella.
The Moroccan’s challenge was a heavy one, but he won the ball in the eyes of both Irrati and Tuttosport.