Serie A Refereeing Controversy: Rocchi Admits Kalulu Red Card Was Wrong

Gianluca Rocchi, Serie A’s referee designator, has publicly apologized for the controversial red card issued to Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu during Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Inter Milan. Rocchi acknowledged that referee Federico La Penna made a “clearly wrong” decision and expressed regret that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) could not be used to overturn it.

The Incident and Its Aftermath

The sending-off occurred after Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni went to ground and gestured for a card, alleging that Kalulu had grabbed his shirt. Television replays suggested minimal, if any, contact between the players. Juventus lost the match despite the protest, allowing Inter to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to eight points.

“We are very sorry about the incident, about La Penna’s decision, which was clearly wrong, and about the fact that VAR could not be used to rectify it,” Rocchi told Italian news agency Ansa. He likewise acknowledged that Bastoni’s actions appeared to be a simulation.

Despite Kalulu’s protest and gesture towards VAR, league protocol prevents the use of VAR in situations involving yellow card decisions, including second yellow cards that result in a red card.

Following the match, Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti and director Giorgio Chiellini confronted La Penna in the tunnel, expressing their dissatisfaction with the officiating.

Chiellini stated to Sky Italia, “Something completely unacceptable happened today, it doesn’t matter whether it happens to us or someone else, and from tomorrow presumably VAR will have to change, given that this is not acceptable that so many errors keep happening even in big games like this.”

Napoli Secure Draw with Roma

In a separate Serie A match on Sunday, Napoli secured a 2-2 draw at home against Roma, thanks to a late equalizer from debutant Alisson Santos. The Brazilian forward scored in the 82nd minute, maintaining Napoli’s unbeaten home record in the league and keeping them in third place with 50 points.

Roma had taken the lead twice through Donyell Malen, who has scored five goals in his five Serie A appearances since joining on loan from Aston Villa. Napoli equalized once through Leonardo Spinazzola before Santos’s dramatic late goal.

Other Serie A Results

Bologna ended a four-match losing streak with a 2-1 victory at Torino, moving up to eighth in the standings. Udinese lost 2-1 at home to Sassuolo.

La Liga and Ligue 1 Results

In Spain, Rayo Vallecano defeated an understrength Atlético Madrid 3-0, with goals from Fran Pérez, Óscar Valentín, and Nobel Mendy. The match was played in front of a sparse crowd due to protests against Rayo’s owner, Raúl Martín Presa.

Real Betis defeated Real Mallorca 2-1, moving to within four points of Atlético Madrid.

In Ligue 1, Lyon defeated Nice 2-0, with goals from Corentin Tolisso and Noah Nartey, to move into third place. Auxerre secured a 3-1 victory at Metz, with Metz scoring two own goals.

Bundesliga Action

In the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig rescued a 2-2 draw at home against Wolfsburg with a late goal from Brighton loanee Brajan Gruda in the 89th minute.