Referee Matteo Marcenaro Bailed Out By VAR After Awarding Non-Existent Penalty To Lecce Vs Inter

Referee Matteo Marcenaro was fortunate to have VAR at his disposal after awarding a non-existent penalty to Lecce against Inter Milan.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. The Gazzetta also argue that Lecce midfielder Joan Gonzalez could’ve received a second yellow card in the 2-0 Nerazzurri win.

Marcenaro did not have the busiest of evenings yesterday at the San Siro, But there were a few talking points.

One of the big ones concerned a spot kick that the official initially awarded in the second half.

Marcenaro Bailed Out By VAR After Incorrectly-Awarded Penalty To Lecce Vs Inter

Inter were 1-0 up at the start of the second half of yesterday’s match.

It was an advantage but not the most comfortable one. Lecce still were actively searching for a route back into the match.

One way that that could have come against the run of play would have been via a penalty kick.

And it looked like the Giallorossi were going to get the opportunity.

Lecce right-back Valentin Gendrey played a cross into the box.

It was Inter wingback Carlos Augusto who blocked Gendrey’s effort. But in the view of referee Marcenaro, the Brazilian did so illegally, with the use of his arms.

However, the Inter players looked bewildered by this decision. And Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi appeared absolutely furious.

Replays suggested that this was not without reason.

Augusto had his back turned to Gendrey’s cross somewhat, and it looked to be off the former Monza wingback’s back rather than arm that the ball came off.

There was certainly no grounds to say that the Inter player had deliberately handled the ball.

And that is what the VAR told Marcenaro. The referee headed over to his monitor, and only needed a brief check to rule that there was no penalty.

Meanwhile, the Gazzetta suggest, the referee could have sent off a Lecce player – in the form of midfielder Joan Gonzalez.

The Spaniard was already on a yellow card when he blatantly handled the ball in midfield, preventing Inter from progressing forward.

Marcenaro decided to give Gonzalez the benefit of the doubt.

But the Gazzetta see the Inter players as having a point in asking the referee whether the foul was worth a second yellow.

Lecce did, however, finish the match with ten men on the pitch.

This was because of an incident when striker Lameck Banda lost his temper with Marcenaro towards the end of the match.

The referee decided that the Zambian had gone too far with his protests, and handed the Lecce player a straight red,