Gianluca Rocchi has acknowledged that referee Federico La Penna made an incorrect decision when he issued a second yellow card to Pierre Kalulu during Juventus’ 3-2 defeat against Inter Milan in Serie A on Saturday.
Kalulu was dismissed after an incident involving Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, who fell to the ground and appealed for a booking, indicating that his shirt had been pulled. Television replays suggested there was no contact between the two players.
The dismissal left Juventus with ten players, and Inter went on to secure a 3-2 victory. The result moved Inter eight points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Speaking to Italian news agency ANSA, Rocchi addressed the decision and its consequences.
“We are very sorry about the incident, about La Penna’s decision, which was clearly wrong, and about the fact that VAR could not be used to rectify it,” Rocchi said.
He added: “La Penna is mortified and we are close to him, but I have to tell you the truth that he is not the only one who made a mistake, because yesterday there was clear simulation.”
Kalulu made a VAR gesture while protesting his dismissal. However, the current league protocol does not allow the use of VAR for yellow card decisions, including second cautions that result in a sending off.
After the match, Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti and club director Giorgio Chiellini confronted La Penna in the tunnel.
Chiellini later spoke to Sky Italia about the incident.
“Something completely unacceptable happened today, it does not matter whether it happens to us or someone else, and from tomorrow presumably VAR will have to change, because this is not acceptable that so many errors keep happening even in big games like this,” he said.
The incident has prompted discussion regarding the current VAR regulations in Serie A, particularly the inability to review second yellow card decisions that lead to dismissals.
