The Return of Federico La Penna: A Month After Inter-Juventus Controversy
The referee who made the mistake in the Bastoni-Kalulu case returns to the pitch to officiate Pisa-Cagliari. Let's explore the aftermath of the controversial incident and the insights from former referee De Marco on the Open Var commentary.
The referee who made the mistake in the Bastoni-Kalulu case returns to the pitch: he will referee Pisa-Cagliari. Federico La Penna returns to refereeing after being the protagonist of the most sensational VAR incident of the season: the double yellow card and subsequent sending off of Pierre Kalulu for simulation by Alessandro Bastoni in Inter 3-2 Juventus on 14 February. After a month on the sidelines due to that sensational oversight, which caused Kalulu to be sent off instead of Bastoni (who had also already been booked) and on which VAR, according to protocol, could not intervene, La Penna returns to refereeing in Serie A. La Penna has been appointed to referee the match between Pisa and Cagliari, valid for the 29th day of Serie A, scheduled for Sunday 15 March at 3 p.m. The 'Bastoni case' ultimately cost La Penna a month on the sidelines.PISA – CAGLIARI, the appointment REFEREE: LA PENNAASSISTANTS: BERCIGLI – TRINCHIERIIV: FOURNEAUVAR: PATERNAAVAR: CAMPLONELet's retrace the events of that day through the commentary on Open Var, on DAZN, by former referee De Marco, on behalf of the AIA (Italian Referees' Association)."Considering the speed at which the action took place, referee La Penna was misled by this movement. The refereeing team on the pitch can help, as has often been the case, and there is a lot of collaboration. Assistant referee number 2 was on the opposite side and covered, Doveri was on the bench side, and to make this kind of decision, you need to be certain, which they probably weren't.""There has been talk for some time about the double yellow card and the possibility of intervening to remedy a situation like this. It is clear that if a team is reduced to 10 men because a player is sent off, even indirectly, it changes the game. We will see what changes the IFAB will make. We hope that from the next World Cup and then from the next championships, this part of the protocol, which penalises a team excessively, can be remedied." Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
The Controversy at Inter-Juventus
Federico La Penna, after the high-profile VAR incident involving Bastoni-Kalulu in Inter 3-2 Juventus, returns to refereeing with the match between Pisa and Cagliari. The oversight, which led to Kalulu's wrongful dismissal instead of Bastoni, kept La Penna sidelined for a month.
Referee Appointment and Commentary Insights
For Pisa-Cagliari, La Penna is appointed as the main referee with support from assistants Bercigli and Trinchieri. In analyzing the incident, former referee De Marco emphasized the challenges faced by the refereeing team in making split-second decisions and the need for potential modifications in the VAR protocol to address such errors.
Calls for IFAB Intervention
The controversial double yellow card incident sparked discussions on the impact of such errors on the outcome of matches. Calls for potential IFAB interventions to prevent similar mishaps in the future have amplified, with a focus on ensuring fairness and accuracy in decision-making.
Future Changes and Expectations
As debates on VAR protocol enhancements continue, there is a growing expectation for measures to be implemented to rectify incorrect decisions that significantly alter match dynamics. The football community awaits potential revisions to ensure a fair playing field and minimize the impact of refereeing errors.
Conclusion
The return of Federico La Penna to refereeing after the Inter-Juventus controversy brings attention to the intricacies of officiating in high-stakes matches. As discussions on VAR reforms persist, the focus remains on enhancing the accuracy of decisions to uphold the integrity of the sport.
