The AIA (Italian Referees Association) confirms the disallowed goals in Atalanta–Roma and Milan–Napoli were correct decisions, although VAR did over-reach and break protocol in Bergamo.
The two goals caused a huge amount of controversy over the weekend in Serie A, with coaches Gian Piero Gasperini and Stefano Pioli protesting this was an unfair and excessive interpretation of the active offside rule.
In both cases, the goals were disallowed because of offside positions from players not touching the ball, in Bergamo Jose Luis Palomino and at San Siro it was Olivier Giroud.
They were considered active, and the AIA has now confirmed via Sky Sport Italia that these were the right decisions, because they were in physical contact with the defender trying to clear the ball.
That is enough to consider them to be interfering with play, as Palomino had his hand on Bryan Cristante’s back as the Roma midfielder turned into his own net.
As for Giroud, he was lying underneath Juan Jesus after they tangled, but did move his legs in such a way as to even to a small degree interfere with the Napoli defender’s clearance, later turned in by Franck Kessie.
The only error in these two incidents was made by the VAR in Bergamo, because he did not advise the referee to have an on-field review.
VAR can only make decisions that are objective, such as an offside position or whether a foul is inside or outside the penalty area.
The Video Assistant Referee does not have the power to judge whether an offside position is active or passive.
It is suggested the VAR thought Palomino had touched the ball, in which case that is an even bigger error, because replays show no contact.
Franck Kessié thought he’d scored an equaliser against Napoli, but VAR rules it out for offside… ❌
Another frustrating moment for Milan. pic.twitter.com/G3bpvomlZ2
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 19, 2021
I think you have to stretch the definition to it’s absolute, unintended breaking point for either goal to be disallowed.
It was a load of **** then, and it’s still a load of **** now, no matter how you serve it.
Controversial Milan goal no matter what u explain, the goal stands
I wouldn’t be happy with those decisions if they were against my team.
I would be happy with those decision if they were in favour of my team.
The rest is just binary paper filling, or **** as some refer to.
Time to stop whinging. In a couple of days, we could end up 7 behind Inter if we keep whining over a decision, when we’ve got a massive game to concentrate on. It was the correct call. Giroud could’ve easily been punished for fouling Jesus. He had his hands all over him. Enough. Move on. Empoli is who we need to worry about.
Giroud offside because he is horizontal on the pitch, trapped underneath a defender… And he is stopping the defender. LOL
Refs have to know when to say sorry they not only got it wrong, but consider their own role far more important than the fans and players do. Let the work on the pitch determine the result, not the work in the VAR box.
The Atalanta goal was offside though. Cristante knows the Atalanta player is there, and it forces him into an own goal. I haven’t got access to the right angles to see if there was indeed a hand on his lower back, as is customary in these situations.
Good to see you have listened to my words @Rosario. Remember when I said Inter would soon overtake within a week and you thought that was absurd. 😂. It might be a 7 point gap as Empoli are in a good run of form.
Hey guys, everything is caused by Juventus as usual.
The AIA confirms what it’s members have done? What a shock!
I have the interviews and the confirmation from half a dozen former and current referees out of the system (like Luca Marelli) that it was not a penalty.
I have a mother and her pet goat and both agree we should replay the whole match!!
Whinging of the highest degree taking place here.
Other teams have also been affected by bad decisions , Roma to name one versus Juve and Milan.
What comes around goes around. Decisions are made, some correct some wrong but we need to move on to the next one.
I personally am enjoying the action unlike what is happening in UK with constant matches cancelled.
Hopefully it stays that way enjoy the XMAS break!
To those sooks who think it was an incorrect decision, what would your opinions be if you received that decision in your favour?