Fonseca ‘revolted’ by ‘lack of respect’ of referee towards Milan | OneFootball

Paulo Fonseca vented his frustration entirely on the referee after Milan’s 2-1 defeat to Atalanta, insisting there is ‘a lack of respect’ towards his club. ‘I am revolted by this situation.’

The coach was fuming on the touchline and also received a yellow card for dissent after the opening goal, as he felt Charles De Ketelaere had pushed Theo Hernandez when nodding in the Marten de Roon free kick.

Alvaro Morata managed to equalise and Christian Pulisic went off with a calf injury, but Ademola Lookman was left totally unmarked for a free header at the back post on a corner to give Atalanta the 2-1 victory.

“In the second half, we didn’t get the ball to the forwards enough, leaving Rafa and Morata isolated,” Fonseca told Sky Sport Italia.

“At the end of the day, we lost the game on two set plays. The first half was very good, but in the second we didn’t have that link with the strikers. I think we deserved more tonight, it was tough to accept conceding two goals from dead ball situations.”

The Rossoneri have solidified their defence when it comes to counter-attacks, even though Mike Maignan made a big save to deny Mateo Retegui in stoppages, but continue to leak goals from dead ball situations.

Fonseca furious at referee after Milan defeat

epa11761060 Atalanta’s Charles de Ketelaere (C) scores the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan, in Bergamo, Italy, 06 December 2024. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

When it came to the De Ketelaere goal, Fonseca insisted his anger with the referee went far beyond that one incident.

“I have always been quiet about the referee, but others talk. Today I am the one who am tired of staying quiet and watching what happens. The first goal was a clear foul, there are absolutely no doubts. The way the referee officiated throughout was against Milan, there are no doubts,” said the coach.

“It’s not even just today. I recognise that refereeing is a tough job, but I am tired of watching the same decisions go the same way against certain clubs. With other clubs, they have no doubts, but with Milan they always do this. There is no respect towards Milan.

“I am not afraid to speak the truth. I always respected the work of the referees, I realise they have a difficult job, but every week it is always the same. They lack respect for Milan. The way the referee officiated throughout this evening was a lack of respect for Milan,” continued a furious Fonseca.

“That foul changed the game, we were in a losing situation to a goal that should’ve been disallowed. It upsets me that I am forced to talk about the referees, but I am revolted by this situation. It happens every week.”

Did Fonseca feel that the referee favoured Atalanta?

“This referee was also the VAR when we were against Udinese and you should go back and see what happened there with the red card. I am not asleep, I was afraid of this referee coming here with us and I was not wrong.”