Controversial Inter-Atalanta Match: Manganiello’s Refereeing Under Scrutiny

The Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Atalanta on Saturday, March 14, 2026, ended in a 1-1 draw, but the match was overshadowed by contentious refereeing decisions made by Gianluca Manganiello. The decisions have sparked significant debate and criticism, particularly regarding a potential penalty not awarded to Inter.

Manganiello Assigned to the Match

Gianluca Manganiello, from the Pinerolo AIA section, was appointed as the referee for the Matchday 29 fixture between Inter and Atalanta as announced on March 11, 2026. Matteo Passeri and Luigi Rossi served as his assistants, with Giuseppe Collu as the fourth official. VAR duties were handled by Matteo Gariglio, with Daniele Chiffi as A.V.A.R. .

The Disputed Penalty Decision

The primary source of controversy revolved around a challenge by Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini on Inter’s Davide Frattesi inside the penalty area. Manganiello did not award a penalty, a decision that drew immediate protests from Inter players and staff. Communication between Manganiello and the VAR room, consisting of Gariglio and Chiffi, did not result in a reversal of the on-field call.

Criticism from Former Referee

Former Serie A referee Graziano Cesari strongly criticized Manganiello’s performance following the match. Cesari highlighted several “unfathomable decisions” that impacted the game’s outcome, including failing to recognize a foul by Kamaldeen Sulemana on Denzel Dumfries in the build-up to Atalanta’s equalizer and refusing to penalize Scalvini’s challenge on Frattesi . He also noted that the VAR officials, Gariglio and Chiffi, failed to intervene in these instances.

Further Incidents and Concerns

Beyond the potential penalty, Manganiello also waved play on after a challenge by Ederson on Dumfries inside the box, further fueling Inter’s frustration. The Nerazzurri had previously expressed concerns about officiating throughout the season, and this match only intensified those feelings.

Gervasoni’s Rating of the Refereeing

Despite the controversy, CAN (presumably a refereeing analysis source) gave Manganiello’s performance a rating of 7, acknowledging the demanding decisions but also noting the unawarded penalty for Scalvini’s foul on Frattesi .

The outcome of this match and the surrounding controversy are likely to prompt further discussion and scrutiny of refereeing standards in Serie A.