Lazio sporting director Igli Tare hits out at referees – “we no longer know where the line is between mistakes and bad faith…”
The Biancocelesti have repeatedly been infuriated by the officiating this season, and the issue came up again after Ciro Immobile was denied a penalty against Cagliari.
“Enough now!” Tare fumed in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.
“On Sunday in Cagliari there was a double penalty on Immobile, but for [Marco] Guida he dived and he booked him for his protestations.
Lazio sporting director Igli Tare hits out at referees – “we no longer know where the line is between mistakes and bad faith…”
The Biancocelesti have repeatedly been infuriated by the officiating this season, and the issue came up again after Ciro Immobile was denied a penalty against Cagliari.
“Enough now!” Tare fumed in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.
“On Sunday in Cagliari there was a double penalty on Immobile, but for [Marco] Guida he dived and he booked him for his protestations.
“VAR has removed from us at least 12 points in the table, even with another six we’d already be almost qualified for the next Champions League.
“The League has been totally distorted, we no longer know where the line is between mistakes and bad faith.
“Lazio are struck when we manage to climb high. This doesn't seem like football anymore.
"The use of the VAR against us is clear for everyone to see. We're not asking for favours or compensation, only respect.
"We haven't stolen anything, we've deserved everything and we earned our position in the standings on the pitch.
"We are embittered, disappointed, tired.
"We're moving forward, even if it's not easy to talk about football, tactics or anything with our players. The team on the pitch struggles to accept certain situations.
"There have been episodes and incidents conditioned by mistakes, we're tired of talking about it.
"We didn't do it after the Juventus game, one of the most beautiful games of the season, even though there was a stonewall penalty. [Medhi] Benatia's foul on Lucas Leiva was clear.
"Now they recognise it, and pundits and experts who have never had Lazio sympathies admit it. We've been damaged, it's clear for all to see.
"Between November and December we were clearly penalised. Four games, one after the other, in which Lazio were damaged and lost ground at the top to Napoli and Juventus.
"We have been slowed down, now we're in fourth and running with the others but we've had a handicap.
"The League, as I've said, has been totally distorted. And there isn't good faith.
"We're currently fourth, I don't want to give percentages [for the Champions League] but we can continue to fight and run because we all want it.
"I am convinced that Lazio, despite the difficulties, can achieve a result that would be deserved and that we can continue to dream.
"We have the quality. In the end, from the bottom of my heart, I believe we can make it."