Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi responds to Genoa fury over the controversial Christian Pulisic goal for Milan. ‘We have doubts too, but when there is no 100 per cent certainty, VAR must leave the decision made on the field.’
The game was won 1-0 thanks to that late strike from Pulisic, who controlled the ball off his chest and potentially the arm too, turned and scored.
Genoa were outraged by the decision not to recall it for a VAR on-field review, so Rocchi outlined on DAZN why technology was in this case not prepared to intervene.
“We have treated these handballs in the same way, because VAR can only intervene when there is certainty,” said Rocchi.
“I am well aware that it is difficult to accept a decision like this, because there are doubts and we have our doubts too, but when there is no 100 per cent certainty, VAR must leave the decision that was made on the field.”
Genoa President Albert Zangrillo insisted the sensation that Pulisic had handled was sufficient to intervene and overturn the decision.
“Our job is to work on certainty and we cannot rule based on a sensation,” replied Rocchi.
“The problem remains the philosophy of technology in football, which was introduced to correct clear and obvious errors. Technology intervened three times this weekend, for example removing a penalty against Empoli, giving a penalty in Inter–Bologna and allowing the Juventus goal in the derby. So imagine how much technology affected those outcomes.
“Football is not an exact science. When the footage is not absolutely clear, then we must leave the decision to those on the field and stand by the referee. This is why we are adamant that we want our referees to make the decisions in real time.”
The group of pundits on DAZN compared it to the confidence that someone committed a murder, but not having the evidence required to convict him.