Open VAR's season premiere on DAZN produced one of the most controversial episodes of the last Serie A matchday and of VAR history.
Below is the transcript of the VAR audio between referee Marcenaro, VAR officials Fabbri and Paterna, and fourth official Rapuano about the penalty removed from Milan against Bologna after a double contact.
At the end are Gianluca Rocchi's comments, in his role as referees' designator, on Open Var.
What emerges from the broadcast is, first, a total and unjustified disregard for Lucumi's initial challenge on Nkunku. That challenge was punishable by a penalty and by a red card. Second, VAR official Fabbri pushed to revoke the penalty for the Freuler–Nkunku contact. The choice raises questions. Freuler did not kick Nkunku directly. He planted his foot and caused Nkunku to stumble, as all images show. The action appears a foul. Rocchi calls failure to review the Lucumi intervention an error. He agrees with his staff on how the Freuler touch was handled.
VAR Audio transcript (relayed via Milan News):
Marcenaro (on first Lucumi–Nkunku contact): "For me, nothing."
[Immediately after Marcenaro awards the penalty for the Nkunku–Freuler contact]
[VAR room checks Nkunku's position and control, both within the rules]
Fabbri (on first Lucumi–Nkunku contact): "He lets go here... the next one blew the whistle."
Fabbri (on Freuler–Nkunku contact): "Where does he take him? (referring to Freuler) No, his foot is planted. His foot is planted and he even touches the ball with his leg. The attacker makes contact with him. (to Paterna) If I show you Lucumi's earlier on Nkunku, what do you think?"
Paterna: "So he opens his leg, Nkunku... No foul, because here the attacker is the one seeking contact."
Fabbri: "Yes, he opens it, I agree. Go to the next clip [images return to Freuler–Nkunku] and find good camera angles, because I do not see a penalty. His foot is on the ground and he never kicks him."
Daniele Paterna: "I agree."
Fabbri: "I want another camera, this one. (Freuler) His foot is already on the ground and Nkunku is the one who kicks him. What do you think?"
Paterna: "Yes, I agree. The attacker moves into him... See..."
Fabbri to Marcenaro: "I would have you review it, Matteo, because the defender has his foot on the ground and Nkunku, by planting his foot, kicks him."
[Marcenaro goes to the monitor]
Fabbri to Marcenaro: "Look, Freuler has his foot on the ground and Nkunku then kicks him."
Marcenaro: "Sorry Michael, does number 8 (Freuler) not also move toward him?"
Fabbri: "But his foot is on the ground. His foot is on the ground. Freuler does nothing. His foot is planted."
[Marcenaro steps away from the monitor and announces the penalty revocation]
Rapuano to Marcenaro: "Marce, Matteo: red card to Allegri, red card to Allegri, red card to Allegri."
Gianluca Rocchi, referees' designator, on Open VAR said the following:
"This episode is complex. I start from the end. Removing the penalty for the second contact was correct. Two basic problems exist. None of the VAR staff considered the first contact a penalty. For us the first contact was clearly a penalty. Next, assuming the first incident was not a penalty, the referee was not shown the full action. The focus stayed only on the second incident. The second incident is not punishable for us because the Bologna player has his foot on the ground. VAR was too insistent in this case. I ask VAR to be precise in explanations so the referee goes to the monitor with clear directions. The final choice must rest with the match referee, not with VAR. In this case the initial review phase was missing. VAR and the on-field referee saw no penalty. We saw a penalty. The final decision was wrong.
How should the sequence have gone? The referee on the field should have awarded a penalty for the Lucumi–Nkunku contact. After that error, VAR should have recalled the referee and shown the full action, including both incidents. The referee has the right to see both. The correct sequence: penalty awarded on the field; full review of the episode; judge the first incident a penalty and the second not; then explain the decision to the public."
Rocchi on Allegri's sending off:
"I asked for cooperation even when errors occur. We accept admitting mistakes. I asked for maximum respect. If people cross the line, we will take action. I act in a cooperative way, but cooperation needs both sides. If cooperation comes only from our side, I will not accept that. We will be strict and fair referees when the other side shows incorrect behavior."
