DAZN refereeing expert: ‘Not a penalty in Inter-Genoa’

DAZN refereeing experts – and evidently the VAR too – felt Inter should not have received a penalty for Morten Frendrup’s sliding tackle on Nicolò Barella, but Giovanni Ayroldi stood by his decision.

The Nerazzurri were already leading 1-0 at San Siro in this evening’s Serie A match against Genoa and were able to double that advantage with the Alexis Sanchez penalty.

However, it caused controversy because there was the unusual sight of a referee being urged to view it again with the On-Field Review and still sticking with his original interpretation of the incident.

Frendrup certainly mistimed the sliding tackle and wiped out Barella, that is beyond doubt, but the concern is that the Inter player had already taken the shot and hit the side-netting by the time the Genoa man had connected with him.

That would make the foul irrelevant to the way the scoring opportunity played out.

This is why the VAR suggested Ayroldi look at it again, as well as some suggestions that from a different angle it looks as if Frendrup might’ve got a toe to the ball.

This was later absolutely confirmed by a Sky Sport Italia camera angle from behind the goal, which shows that Frendrup definitely got the ball to redirect it onto the side-netting.

However, this angle was not shown to the referee on the VAR monitor.

“In my view, this is not a penalty,” said DAZN refereeing expert Luca Marelli.

“Frendrup tries to go for the ball and the contact occurs on Barella’s already extended leg after the ball has been struck. In my view, VAR had every right to intervene, especially as Frendrup does get a tiny touch on the ball to deflect it.”

🚨IL FERMO IMMAGINE DEL RIGORE PER L'INTER

👀#Frendrup atterra #Barella dopo la conclusione del centrocampista dell'#Inter. Per #Ayroldi è calcio di rigore#InterGenoa #SerieA pic.twitter.com/8uOY8wlpKe

— calciomercato.it (@calciomercatoit) March 4, 2024