Atalanta condemn two unjustifiable refereeing errors after Coppa Italia shootout loss to Lazio | OneFootball

Atalanta condemned the officiating after their Coppa Italia semi-final defeat to Lazio on penalties in Bergamo, with director of sport Luca Percassi alleging two unjustifiable errors in a disallowed goal. He spoke in place of coach Raffaele Palladino.

“When faced with a very good performance from the team, there is an evident error on the goal disallowed for Ederson,” he told Sport Mediaset.

After a 2-2 first leg at the Stadio Olimpico last month, Lazio led through Alessio Romagnoli before Mario Pasalic levelled within two minutes. Two Atalanta goals were then overturned by VAR, one for a Nikola Krstovic foul on goalkeeper Edoardo Motta and another for Davide Zappacosta’s offside. With extra time failing to separate the sides, Motta saved four straight penalties to send Lazio into the final against Inter on 13 May.

The disputed move saw Mario Gila first kick the ball onto his outstretched arm, then, after Motta spilled, Krstovic toe-poked it from under the keeper’s glove for Ederson to tap in. Soon after, Lazio’s penalty appeals for a Giorgio Scalvini handball, again after the ball was kicked onto the arm, were treated the same way.

“An error of this kind is not justifiable when there is so much at stake, and we have so many instruments at the disposal of the referees. It leaves a really bitter taste in the mouth to see this happen.”

Source: Football Italia