Ricci Handball Incident: No Penalty Awarded in Milan Derby

The refereeing decision not to award Inter Milan a penalty in the closing moments of the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan has been upheld, with officials agreeing that AC Milan midfielder Samuele Ricci’s handball did not warrant a spot-kick. The incident occurred in the 95th minute, with the scoreline at 1-0 in favor of AC Milan.

The Incident and Referee’s Decision

During a frantic final push for an equalizer, the ball struck Samuele Ricci’s arm inside the penalty area after a deflection from Denzel Dumfries. Inter players immediately appealed for a penalty, but referee Daniele Doveri, after consulting with VAR, waved play on.

The key justification for the decision, as confirmed by referee chiefs, was that Ricci’s arm was in a “natural position” and he did not make his body “unnaturally larger.” The act of pulling his arm back further reduced the likelihood of a penalty being awarded. SemperInter and Football Italia both reported on the reasoning behind the decision.

Post-Match Reactions

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu, while remaining composed in his post-match press conference, acknowledged the VAR review. He stated, “I was told the VAR checked it, so I have nothing to add. I am focused on the performance and my own mistakes.” Football Italia

Despite Chivu’s calm demeanor, frustration was evident within the Inter squad, with many believing the contact altered the ball’s trajectory. Foot Italia highlighted the intensity of the protests from the Inter players.

Impact on the Serie A Title Race

AC Milan’s 1-0 victory, secured by a goal from Pervis Estupiñán, allowed them to close the gap on league leaders Inter Milan to seven points with ten Serie A games remaining. SemperInter reported on the significance of the win for AC Milan.

Key Takeaways

• Referee Daniele Doveri’s decision not to award a penalty for Samuele Ricci’s handball was deemed correct by refereeing officials.
• The key factor in the decision was Ricci’s arm being in a natural position and not making his body unnaturally larger.
• AC Milan’s win reduced the gap to Inter Milan to seven points in the Serie A title race.