Referee chief reacts to Inter 3-2 Juventus mistake: ‘We are very sorry’

Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi has had his say on the controversial decision to send off Pierre Kalulu during the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Saturday evening, and has apologised on behalf of the officiating team. 

Rocchi responds to La Penna mistake in Inter 3-2 Juventus

Referee Federico La Penna has found himself at the centre of controversy after Inter’s 3-2 victory over Juventus on Saturday night after sending off Kalulu for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute. 

Outlets in Italy claim that the first yellow card shown to Kalulu was slightly on the harsh side, and that the second was ‘absurd’ and ‘non-existent’. Replays confirmed that Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, on a yellow card himself at the time, had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off. 

Despite La Penna’s error, VAR could not intervene as this was a second yellow card offence and not a straight red decision. There have already been reports that the IFAB will seek to change this rule at their next annual assembly at the end of February. 

Refereeing chief Rocchi has since had an opportunity to have his say on the matter. 

“We are very sorry about the incident: For La Penna’s decision, which was clearly wrong, and for the fact that we could not use VAR to remedy it,” Rocchi said (via ANSA). 

Rocchi also told ANSA that La Penna is ‘distraught’ by his mistake, and also criticised Bastoni, claiming that the referee was “not the only one who made a mistake, because there was clear simulation yesterday.”