Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante should have received a red card for a foul on Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram in yesterday’s Serie A clash.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They argue that the foul by the Italian international denied Thuram a “clear goal-scoring opportunity.”
Yesterday’s match at the Stadio Olimpico was not an easy one for referee Davide Massa to take hold of.
There were quite a few fouls from both Inter and Roma players which slowed down proceedings. It was a very physical encounter.
But there was one moment in particular where Massa – as well as the VAR – had a big decision to make.
And in the view of the Gazzetta, the referee got it wrong.
Bryan Cristante Should’ve Seen Red For Roma Vs Inter For Foul On Thuram
During the first half, there was a moment where Inter striker Thuram was running with the ball into the Roma penalty area.
Roma midfielder Cristante made a last-ditch challenge to try and win the ball.
However, the Italian international failed to make any contact with the ball. He did, however, make contact with Thuram’s leg.
This caused the Inter striker to hit the deck, immediately appealing for the foul on the edge of the area.
However, Massa was not convinced. He waved play on.
The Gazzetta argue, however, that the referee made the wrong decision here. And moreover, the newspaper argue, it was clearly a situation where VAR should have intervened.
Had Cristante not fouled Thuram, the Frenchman would have been cleanly through on goal.
This mirrored similar incidents in two other matches earlier on in the weekend in Serie A.
AC Milan midfielder Tijani Reijnders saw red for dragging back Udinese’s Sandi Lovriv as the last defender. Then, it was the same for Lazio’s Alessio Romagnoli on Juventus’s Pierre Kalulu.
In both those cases, the officials saw the fouls in question as denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity and hence worthy of a straight red card.
Romagnoli was sent off after intervention from VAR, after initially looking to have gotten away with it.
Meanwhile, there was also similar drama in the Premier League over the same weekend.
Arsenal lost defender William Saliba to a first half red card after the Frenchman had dragged back Bournemouth striker Evanilson.
But it was a different story in yesterday’s match between Liverpool and Chelsea. Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo dragged back striker Diogo Jota, but did not see red.