Referee Marco Guida faces criticism for missing some decisions in yesterday afternoon’s Serie A draw between Inter Milan and Bologna.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, grade Guida’s officiating display at just 4.5/10.
Yesterday afternoon’s match at the San Siro was not exactly the most difficult match to officiate.
And yet, the Gazzetta contends, Guida made a bit of a meal of it.
The key moment in the match was the penalty that allowed Bologna to get back into the match.
And for the Gazzetta, there is little doubt that it was a penalty. Inter captain Lautaro Martinez had both arms around Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson as he wrestled the Scot to the ground during a Rossoblu corner kick.
And Guida did eventually award the spot kick.
But this was only after the assistance of the VAR.
The official somehow failed to spot the infringement in real time, instead waving play on.
Marco Guida Criticized For Performance In Inter Vs Bologna Clash
Guida not pointing to the spot right away meant that Inter had a chance to counterattack from the Bologna corner.
And there was a very dangerous situation in transition. French international duo Benjamin Pavard and Marcus Thuram rushed up the pitch to try and take advantage of Bologna being caught high up the pitch.
In the end, Inter did not score from that situation.
But had they done so, Guida would have faced a very awkward situation.
The referee was always likely to have to award the penalty kick for Martinez’s foul on Ferguson.
But had Inter scored, the referee would have also had to nullify their goal.
Naturally, the Nerazzurri would then feel hard done by having a goal ruled out in that manner.
As such, while the VAR made sure that the correct decision arrived in the end, Guida did not handle the situation correctly in real time on the pitch, in the view of the Gazzetta.
