Video: Marelli explains why VAR ‘made serious mistake’ on AC Milan penalty | OneFootball

Refereeing expert Luca Marelli explains why ‘the serious mistake was made by the VAR’ even more than referee Matteo Marcenaro in the controversial Milan vs. Bologna penalty revocation.

The Rossoneri were leading 1-0 at the time when Christopher Nkunku was nudged from behind by Jhon Lucumi, the referee waved play on, he got back up to reach the rebound and then went down again under a Remo Freuler challenge.

It was at this stage that Marcenaro pointed to the penalty spot, but VAR Michael Fabbri recalled him to the monitor and only showed the replay of the Freuler trip, which did not make contact with Nkunku’s ankle.

Marcenaro then announced his decision to the stadium, that Bologna Number 8 did not commit any foul, so the penalty was revoked.

It prompted a furious response from Milan coach Max Allegri, who was sent off for dissent.

Marelli explains why VAR at fault for Milan penalty chaos

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC 1909 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“The serious mistake is made by VAR,” explained former referee Marelli on DAZN Italia.

“It’s true Marcenaro made a mistake not giving the penalty when he first saw Lucumi’s push on Nkunku, which was pretty clear. However, the big error was that the VAR only showed him the footage of the second challenge from Freuler, so the referee was only given the option of seeing the second part of the incident, not the first that he evidently missed.

“It can be defined a clear and obvious error that he didn’t give the penalty for that first challenge. Nkunku was clear on goal in front of Skorupski and was challenged from behind by Lucumi, who pushed him without any chance of getting the ball.

“Instead of showing both incidents to the referee, who could’ve been recalled to the monitor for a potential red card on the first challenge, he was only shown the footage of the second, where we can all agree that was not a foul.

“It was a DOGSO, a clear scoring opportunity with no possibility of playing the ball, so a red card was entirely fitting as well as a penalty.”

DOGSO is ‘Denying a Goal or Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity’ and warrants a red card.