CorSport – Napoli v Pisa: VAR Mazzoleni embarrasses himself! | OneFootball

CorSport – The Napoli-Pisa VAR Review: Mazzoleni’s Performance Was Embarrassing!

It’s hard to assess Crezzini’s performance; he’s young, so there could be some mitigating factors (though not many, to be honest). It’s much easier to define the VAR’s performance, Mazzoleni: embarrassing. And to think he was put there specifically to help. What’s the saying? May God protect me from my enemies because… There were three incidents in Napoli’s penalty area: an overcomplicated interpretation on the first, unrepeatable adjectives for the second. The third was the least punishable of all. What will Rocchi say? Not that he’s satisfied with the refereeing team’s work (everything has its limits).

Let’s start from the end: Canestrelli’s shot, Beukema is less than a meter away, the ball hits his left knee (so the ball speeds up) and then goes onto his right arm, which is outstretched, but – given the movement – it’s for balance. Crezzini whistles for a penalty, the least punishable one.

Two plays before Napoli’s goal (so it has nothing to do with the APP), Di Lorenzo stretches out towards Akinsanmiro, doesn’t touch the ball but trips him: Crezzini misses everything, Mazzoleni decides it’s not worth an OFR.

Leris falls to the ground, the ball ends up on his supporting right hand, he gets up using that arm, and is then challenged by De Bruyne who steps on his foot. The incident escapes everyone, except Mazzoleni who calls Crezzini to the OFR: the stamp is clear, but first he shows his young colleague the handball. The only possible explanation, in this convoluted decision-making process, is that the supporting arm, which is usually not punishable, was considered as such because it led to an advantage for the attacker.

Lusuardi’s header, Beukema’s side (and arm still close to the body). Marin touches Höjlund’s foot: risky.

Carlo Gioia

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.