Nicolò Barella showed clear signs of frustration in the final minutes of Inter’s home clash against Lazio, voicing all his dismay to referee Daniele Chiffi after the official awarded a 90th-minute penalty to the Biancocelesti.
As the visitors mounted one of their final pushes in search of an equaliser, they switched play from right to left, where Valentin Castellanos controlled the ball and attempted to flick it past Yann Bisseck — the ball striking the centre-back’s hand in the process.
Chiffi initially waved play on, but was called to the monitor for a VAR review moments later.
It only took a brief look at the screen for the referee to overturn his decision and award the penalty, triggering fierce protests from Inter players and staff, both on the pitch and on the sidelines.
‘I’m playing for my life’: what Barella told Chiffi after referee’s penalty call in Inter vs Lazio
As the referee pointed to the spot, Barella — Inter’s captain on the night — immediately approached Chiffi, visibly shaken as he asked for an explanation.
“He’s standing like this with his hands, explain to me how that can be a penalty?,” Barella immediately shouted at Chiffi, as shown in the footage aired during DAZN’s Open VAR segment.
“Listen to me, stay calm,” replied the referee.
“I am not calm, I’m playing for my life,“ Barella added.
“So are we, always,” Chiffi told the midfielder.
“No, you’re not playing for anything, I am,” the Italy international insisted.
“Stop — that’s how it is. He opens it and leaves it, he makes the movement,” the referee continued.
Playing for your life? C’mon Nico, that’s way too exaggerated. If we fail to win scudetto, we’ve only got ourselves to blame regardless all the controversies. We (Inter) are not saints ourselves.
He clearly moved his arm towards the ball. What a load of garbage.
Yeah, but why Inter didn’t get penalty against Lecce in very similar situation?
Another Materazzi
If the referee really wanted to be correct, why didn’t he give a penalty to Inter on the push on the same player. Are strick rules applied against Inter only?
Leaves one wondering.