Referee Michael Fabbri Under Fire For Error-Strewn Performance In Inter Milan Vs Hellas Verona Serie A Clash

Referee Michael Fabbri has received criticism for his erratic, error-strewn handling of Inter Milan’s Serie A clash with Hellas Verona.

Italian news outlet FCInterNews argue, among other things, that the Nerazzurri’s late winner should not have stood.

Fabbri didn’t have the easiest of matches on his hands this afternoon.

Verona came to the San Siro aiming to play a very physical match.

Therefore, there were quite a few strong challenges for the referee to look at.

Fabbri missed a few yellow cards during the match, in the view of FCIN.

These included fouls be Verona midfielder Michael Fulorunsho during the first half, and Gialloblu duo Josh Doig and Diego Coppola in the second half.

The official seemed determined to largely keep his cards in his pocket.

Then, early in the second half, Fabbri and the VAR ruled out a second goal for Inter and for Lautaro Martinez. They determined that Francesco Acerbi had been offside.

But it was late on in the match when the real drama began. And this was where, in the view of FCIN, Fabbri made some clearly incorrect decisions.

Michael Fabbri Criticized For Several Errors In Inter Vs Hellas Verona Clash

The first major error that Fabbri made, FCIN argue, was to blow his whistle when Inter had a promising looking counterattack situation.

The referee determined that Inter striker Marko Arnautovic had committed a foul during the sequence.

But on replay, it didn’t look as though there was a foul.

It was a fair shoulder-to-shoulder contact, which Fabbri prematurely blew his whistle for.

Then, Verona players felt very aggrieved at a situation in the buildup to Davide Frattesi’s late winner for Inter.

Nerazzurri defender seemed to shove Gialloblu midfielder Ondrej Duda.

Fabbri saw the incident in real time and judged that there was not enough to give a foul. And then the VAR confirmed the referee’s decision.

In the view of FCIN, however, this was not the right decision. Bastoni had in fact committed a foul on Duda.

The referee then sent off Verona vice-captain Darko Lazovic after the Serb complained angrily in the wake of Inter’s goal.

Lastly, Fabbri awarded a late penalty to Verona, but only with the assistance of his VAR.

This was for a late challenge by Inter defender Matteo Darmian which clipped the heel of Verona defender Giangiacomo Magnani.

FCIN view it as the correct decision. Fabbri pointed to the spot after looking at his pitchside monitor.

Then, in one final twist, it was Verona striker Thomas Henry who made an error – the Frenchman missed his penalty kick for even more late drama.