Roma defender Federico Fazio was “stunned” at the penalty decision which cost them two points against Borussia Monchengladbach. “We all saw it.”
The Giallorossi were leading the Europa League clash thanks to a Nicolò Zaniolo header, but deep into stoppages a penalty was awarded for handball, even though it clearly hit Chris Smalling on the chin.
Roma defender Federico Fazio was “stunned” at the penalty decision which cost them two points against Borussia Monchengladbach. “We all saw it.”
The Giallorossi were leading the Europa League clash thanks to a Nicolò Zaniolo header, but deep into stoppages a penalty was awarded for handball, even though it clearly hit Chris Smalling on the chin.
“We all saw it. I’m stunned,” Fazio told Roma TV. “Nobody was disturbing the eyeline of the referee and we all saw it wasn’t a penalty.
“He had some doubts too, but now we are accustomed to getting on the wrong end of refereeing decisions. We’re getting damaged a lot, both at the Olimpico and outside.”
There is no VAR in the Europa League group phase, but Fazio was more cynical on the situation.
“We had VAR against Cagliari and yet they disallowed our goal at the end. This time, the referee was two metres away, the ball blatantly hit Smalling in the face.
“We played with determination, fighting and trying to win. We can’t do anything about it now, we have to look towards the next game.”