Italian Assistant Referee’s Open Letter: ‘Penalties Given By VAR After Rocchi Told Them To – Why No Penalty In Inter Milan Vs Roma?’ | OneFootball

Italian assistant referee Domenico Rocca wonders why penalties are given after VAR intervention, but not when Inter Milan played Roma.

Rocca penned a letter that has been published on Arbitri.com. He noted that referee-designator Gianluca Rocchi personally intervened in one instance – yet a potential title-deciding incident never went the way of Inter.

Inter Milan have been left fuming with referees in Serie A in recent weeks.

A recent flashpoint incident came in Inter’s 2-2 draw with Lazio last weekend.

Inter threw away a lead late in the match – and with it, an advantage over Napoli in the league table.

Lazio’s equalizer came from the penalty spot. Specifically, the penalty was awarded to the Biancocelesti for a handball by Yann Bisseck.

Referee Daniele Chiffi did not point to the spot in real time. However, the VAR advised him to have another look on his monitor, where he spotted the clear handball by the German.

However, Inter feel that there has been inconsistency in the use of VAR.

Earlier in the match, VAR had not intervened after Bisseck had wanted a penalty for a shove in the back by Nicolo Rovella.

Meanwhile, it is not just in last Sunday’s match where Inter feel they have not received decisions from VAR.

There have been incidents in matches against the likes of Lecce, Bologna, and AC Milan where the Nerazzurri have felt aggrieved.

And then there was one particular episode in last month’s loss to Roma.

Late Penalty Controversy In Inter Vs Roma Serie A Clash

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 02: Yann Aurel Bisseck of FC Internazionale looks on during the coppa Italia Semi Final match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

During a Serie A clash with Roma last month, Inter were trailing 0-1 in the closing stages.

After a cross into the box, defender Yann Bisseck was yet again at the centre of the action.

The 24-year-old attempted to meet a flick-on by Marko Arnautovic at the far post.

Bisseck was prevented from doing so by Roma defender Evan Ndicka, however. Ndicka had both arms around the German, and wrestled him to the ground with little attempt to play the ball.

It did appear to be a blatant penalty in real time. And the Italian refereeing association would go on to admit that the officials should have awarded Inter the penalty.

But that’s not what happened. Inter lost that match. Therefore, Inter went on to lose against the Giallorossi.

Meanwhile a draw would mean that they would currently be level on points with Napoli in the table – rather than trailing by a point heading into the final day.

Assistant Referee Rocca: “Penalties Given By VAR After Rocchi Told Them – Why Not Inter Vs Roma?”

Getty Images

Italian assistant referee Domenico Rocca wrote an open letter to the CAN (National Refereeing Commission).

“I never imagined I’d have to write to my Commission,” he begins.

“The person who taught me how to referee and be a part of the association was Stefano Farina. He convinced me that the refereeing body should be trusted no matter what.”

However, Rocca feels that the time has come to speak out.

“We saw in a match between Udinese and Parma a penalty was awarded,” he noted.

“Only because in Lissone [the location of the VAR booth] the supervisor Rocchi gets up quickly from his post to knock several times on the glass for the VAR Paterna and Assistant VAR Sozza (you can hear it in the audio) to get their attention.

“In turn, they told the referee to give an on-pitch review. And he correctly awarded a penalty, although the VAR had missed it initially.

“But why, in the match between Inter and Roma, did Gervasoni, supervisor on that day, not give the VAR a ‘knock’ to award a penalty?” Rocca asks.

“Even the Commission publicly admitted in a meeting of all referees and assistant that they missed a clear penalty in favour of Inter.”

Rocca calls this a “serious error.”

“Which will most likely decide Inter losing the title in favour of Napoli,” he notes.