Referee Luca Pairetto has come under fire for some sloppy errors in yesterday’s Serie A draw between Monza and Inter.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, particularly single out a failure to play advantage for Monza late in second half stoppage time.
In the view of the Gazzetta, yesterday’s match at the U-Power Arena was a relatively calm one for Pairetto.
The referee did not have to make too many big decisions.
The 1-1 draw was a flat affair without the tension ever boiling over. There were no big flashpoint incidents such as penalty decisions or red cards.
However, the Gazzetta argues, even in those circumstances Pairetto didn’t do a terribly good job.
The newspaper note that the referee whistled for a handball by Inter striker Marcus Thuram in the Monza penalty area when in fact it looked like the Frenchman had controlled the ball with his shoulder.
Then there was a foul by Monza forward Daniel Maldini on Inter’s Carlos Augusto.
The Monza player appeared to rake the calf of Augusto with a late tackle. In the view of the Gazzetta this was a clear yellow card offense – but Pairetto didn’t see it that way.
Luca Pairetto Criticized For Errors In Monza Vs Inter Draw
However, there is one moment above all in which Pairetto blundered, argues that Gazzetta.
Right at the end of the match, with the score 1-1, Monza had a counterattack.
Brianzoli forward Dany Mota was on the receiving end of a fairly blatant foul by Inter defender Benjamin Pavard.
However, Pairetto did not whistle initially. The ball was still very much in play, so the referee at first waited to see whether a Monza advantage transpired.
Brianzoli midfielder Warren Bondo got to the loose ball first. He tried to squeeze it through for the run of Monza captain Matteo Pessina.
However, it was then that Pairetto rather bizarrely chose to whistle for the foul on Mota.
The situation was hardly a certain goal for Pessina. Inter defender Federico Dimarco was probably in a position to challenge for the ball or at least put Pessina off his shot.
However, the fact that Pairetto did not allow the situation to develop was odd, to say the least.
In the view of the Gazzetta, this was nothing less than a serious error by the official.