Italian Media Argue Fiorentina Spot Kick Vs Inter Milan A “Clear Penalty”

The penalty to Fiorentina against Inter Milan yesterday was “clear” in the view of Italian media.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, go even further in arguing that La Viola should have had a spot kick in the first half as well.

Fiorentina received a penalty during the second half of yesterday’s Serie A match against Inter.

This came after an incident in which Nerazzurri keeper Yann Sommer punched FIorentina striker M’Bala Nzola with the follow-through after clearing an aerial ball.

Referee Gianluca Aureliano did not initially point to the spot.

However, after conversation with his VAR the match official went over to the pitchside monitor. And he only needed a quick look at the incident to change his mind.

Aureliano pointed to the spot and awarded the penalty to Fiorentina.

Fiorentina Penalty Vs Inter “Clear” Argues Italian Media

The point became a bit moot, as Inter keeper Sommer saved a relatively tame effort by Viola winger Nico Gonzalez in the end.

But that has not stopped the controversy about whether the decision was correct from making the rounds.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that Sommer got the ball.

The 35-year-old got to the ball before Viola striker Nzola did, and cleared it.

However, Sommer’s momentum was enough to not just make contact with the Angolan, but deliver a firm punch to his head.

In the view of the Gazzetta, the contact that Sommer got on the ball was not the most relevant factor.

The fact that the former Bayern Munich keeper struck Nzola with the force that he did means that there was no doubt that it was a foul, the newspaper argues.

Meanwhile, the Gazzetta also argue Inter were perhaps also fortunate not to concede a separate penalty in the first half.

There was an incident in the Nerazzurri penalty area between defender Alessandro Bastoni and his Fiorentina opposite number Luca Ranieri.

Bastoni was grappling with Ranier. And the Viola players appealed vehemently for the penalty.

But Aureliano adjudged that there was not enough in the incident for a foul.

In the view of the Gazzetta, however, there was enough that it could have been a penalty.