Juventus-Inter refereeing crisis: Kalulu's dismissal threatens Rocchi's position
The Italian league's "Derby d'Italia" between Juventus and Inter Milan, which ended in a 2-3 defeat for the Old Lady, was marred by a storm of refereeing controversy that continued even after the final whistle. A wave of anger swept through the Turin club, with accusations being leveled directly at the Italian refereeing system, in an incident that brought back memories of a long history of contentious clashes between the two traditional rivals.
Details of the incident that turned the tables
The thrilling encounter on Saturday descended into chaos moments before halftime when referee Federico La Penna showed Juventus defender Piero Kalulu a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal. This decision left Juventus in a precarious position, forcing them to play the remainder of the match with ten men, which directly impacted the final score.
Television replays and post-match technical analysis revealed a shocking surprise: footage clearly showed that Kalulu made no contact with Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni. It appeared the Nerazzurri defender had feigned a fall to deceive the referee, a tactic that proved successful and sparked a wave of resentment and a sense of injustice within the Juventus camp.
Administrative escalation and demands for Rocky's departure
The matter didn't end with on-field protests; Juventus officials escalated their rhetoric to its highest level. Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus' sporting director, and Damien Comolli, the club's general manager, described what happened as "completely unacceptable and shameful." The statements went so far as to include a formal and public demand for the dismissal of Gianluca Rocchi, the official responsible for referee appointments in Italy.
In a fiery interview with Sky Sport Italia, Chiellini said: "There's no point in talking about football or tactics after what happened. Sending off a player for a phantom touch is blatant proof that the refereeing is not up to the standard of Serie A." He added, questioning the usefulness of VAR and its protocols, which seem powerless to review second yellow cards, no matter how egregious or impactful the foul may be.
Historical dimensions and expected impacts
This crisis takes on an added dimension given the historical sensitivity of the "Derby d'Italia" matches. The clashes between Juventus and Inter Milan have always been a stage for refereeing controversies that have reverberated for years, from the infamous events of 1998 to the fallout from the Calciopoli scandal. This historical background makes any refereeing error in this particular match a potential spark for a national sporting crisis that extends far beyond the pitch.
This incident is expected to reopen the VAR protocols file at the Italian Football Federation, amid growing demands to expand the technology's powers to include reviewing second yellow cards that lead to expulsion, to ensure fairness in top matches that decide championships.
Spalletti's silence and the fans' anger
The discontent extended to the coaching staff, with manager Luciano Spalletti refusing to speak to the media after the match, a silent protest expressing his deep frustration, leaving the task of conveying the club's message to the management. Chiellini commented on the referees' committee situation, saying, "If Gianluca Rocchi keeps saying he's going to leave, let's see now if he actually does, because the group he's leading isn't functioning properly.".
For his part, Comolli stressed that the incident represents “a great embarrassment for the club in front of the whole world,” noting that the anger is not limited to the management but includes the owners and the fans, especially with the repetition of impactful mistakes this season, which puts the credibility of the competition at stake.
