Refereeing chief urges VAR protocol change, but defends Inter vs. Fiorentina error | OneFootball

Italian Referees’ Association President Antonio Zappi confirms they are ‘not satisfied’ with the current VAR protocol and called for IFAB to change, but defends the decisive error in Inter vs. Fiorentina.

The Serie A Week 24 fixtures were characterised by controversy and chaos around refereeing decisions, some of which were clear and obvious errors that could not be corrected by VAR because of the limitations of the current protocol.

That includes the fact Fikayo Tomori was sent off for a second bookable offence on a player who was clearly offside for Milan against Empoli, and Inter scoring against Fiorentina on a corner that should not have been given.

“We are not satisfied, as evidently there were some problems and we cannot deny that,” said Zappi at the presentation of the Enzo Bearzot award.

“The referee can only apply the rules that are set by the IFAB protocol, this is the institution that has the right to modify the protocol. If it decides to update this to guarantee fairness in football, then we are happy to follow that.

“We are open to any type of experimentation that they wish to attempt. Uniformity is a difficult concept to apply when situations are subject to interpretation, but we are trying to reduce the so-called grey areas.”

Inter vs. Fiorentina refereeing caused controversy

Marko Arnautovic of Internazionale heads his team’s 2nd goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 10, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

However, after some pundits said Fiorentina should’ve ‘walked off’ in protest at the corner situation, while others called it the “death of football” in Italy, Zappi stood up for referee Federico La Penna.

“The camera angle shows that the ball had gone out, but only those who have worked on the pitch can understand that at that moment, from La Penna’s perspective, Bastoni’s body was covering the ball. It was impossible for him to see it.

“The other assistant was on the opposite side of the pitch and perhaps a little far away, but it was certainly a rapid movement.

“This will always be the beauty of football, there is also the ability to discuss the refereeing decisions.”