Controversy over Atalanta penalty against Milan

The Atalanta penalty in tonight’s 1-1 draw with Milan has prompted debate and controversy, however refereeing coach Antonio Damato insists ‘that is exactly the place VAR turns into so beneficial.’

Olivier Giroud had mistimed his clearance on an Atalanta nook and by chance caught Emil Holm on the arm and chest.

Holm was going through away from purpose and went down clutching his face, drawing additional consideration to the contact, despite the fact that the boot by no means received increased than his chest.

This is the penalty resolution in opposition to Olivier Giroud that price AC Milan three factors on the San Siro…

Are Milan followers proper to really feel exhausting finished by? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/76JbfBjgqt

— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 25, 2024

Referee Daniele Orsato was referred to as again for a VAR On-Discipline Assessment and awarded the spot-kick, which Teun Koopmeiners transformed for a 1-1 draw.

The choice has prompted controversy, with multiple pundits on DAZN, Sky Sport Italia and CBS Sports arguing that is “not sufficient” to warrant a penalty, because the depth of the contact and the context of Holm’s motion all steered there was little or no hazard.

“I do not like this suggestion from the VAR.”@ChristinaUnkel doesn’t assume the on-field name of Olivier Giroud’s excessive kick ought to have gone to VAR. 👀 pic.twitter.com/QhoI8w9GNy

— CBS Sports activities Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 25, 2024

Refereeing coach and former official Antonio Damato was on DAZN this night and gave the official view of the scenario.

“We contemplate it the proper resolution from VAR, as a result of the Atalanta participant makes an attempt to play the ball and he’s prevented doing so by a transparent kick from his opponent.

“By way of the foundations, it’s a clear foul that’s to be punished with a penalty. We preserve the VAR Irrati was right to recall the referee for an On-Discipline Assessment.

“It was a fairly clear dynamic, it didn’t require a lot evaluation from the referee as soon as he noticed the footage. That is exactly the sort of scenario the place VAR is so beneficial, as a result of on the sector these incidents are very troublesome to identify.

“Considerably, this can be a clear foul, it needed to be penalised.”

Even Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini struggled to defend the award to his personal workforce.

“We’ve seen a variety of these VAR penalties this season. I’ve by no means been in favour of this kind of penalty, however they’ve turn out to be frequent,” Gasperini informed DAZN.

“Individuals say it’s fashionable soccer, favoured additionally by your tv protection that tends to get pleasure from specializing in this kind of factor. It’s actually not one thing folks of my era recognise, however there you go.”

DAZN refereeing professional Luca Marelli referred to as the scenario “borderline” in his stay commentary, however finally warned “this example is within the code and can at all times result in a penalty. The depth of the contact, whether or not Holm tried to make it look worse, all of that’s irrelevant.”

Sky Sport Italia pundits describe this explicit strategy to penalties as “whoever will get there first is true,” as now we have seen quite a few spot-kicks as an example with two gamers going for a similar ball, if one will get there a fraction of a second first and his foot is kicked fairly than the ball, then a penalty is given.

Nonetheless, it isn’t solely clear if this kind of scenario is ‘within the code’ solely in Italy and never by IFAB on the whole, as there was an incident throughout the Europa League play-off between Roma and Feyenoord when Stephan El Shaarawy had the again of his ankle kicked, however VAR didn’t intervene.