Former Inter Coach Gigi Simoni believes Piero Ceccarini “would have to have given” a penalty against Juventus in 1998 if they’d had VAR.
The Nerazzurri met Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi in April of that year, with the referee controversially denying a penalty when Ronaldo went down under Mark Iuliano’s challenge.
Juve were 1-0 up at the time thanks to Alessandro Del Piero's goal, and though he later missed a penalty, they held on for a 1-0 win.
Former Inter Coach Gigi Simoni believes Piero Ceccarini “would have to have given” a penalty against Juventus in 1998 if they’d had VAR.
The Nerazzurri met Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi in April of that year, with the referee controversially denying a penalty when Ronaldo went down under Mark Iuliano’s challenge.
Juve were 1-0 up at the time thanks to Alessandro Del Piero's goal, and though he later missed a penalty, they held on for a 1-0 win.
The Old Lady went on to win the Scudetto that year, and Interisti have long claimed they’d have taken the title if not for that decision by Ceccarini.
“It’s been a long time, and it’s strange that after so many years and so many penalties given, people still remember that incident,” Simoni, Beneamata Coach at the time, told ANSA.
“Of course if there had been VAR then Ceccarini would have to have given the penalty.
“If it had been there that day in Turin… a lot of histories would have changed [Simoni was sacked in November the following season]. It still hurts to think about it today.
“The satisfaction is be the moral beneficiaries when people think about it. VAR doesn’t totally solve problems, but it helps.
“A lot of decisions are right, I read the newspapers and I can see a lot of satisfaction.
“It’ll never return that Scudetto though…”