Ex Serie A Referee Lashes Out At Manganiello After Inter Milan 1-1 Atalanta Draw: “It Was A Clear Penalty” | OneFootball

Former Serie A referee Mauro Bergonzi blasted Gianluca Manganiello after Sunday’s controversial draw between Inter Milan and Atalanta.

Speaking to La Nuova Ds via FCInter1908, Bergonzi slammed the 45-year-old’s decision not to award a ‘clear’ penalty to the Nerazzurri.

Atalanta held Cristian Chivu’s side to a frustrating 1-1 draw at San Siro two days ago.

Despite taking a halftime lead through Francesco Pio Esposito, Inter dropped two points, as Nikola Krstovic restored parity in the 82nd minute,

However, it’s worth noting that Gianluca Manganiello made a series of questionable decisions toward the end of the game.

For starters, he failed to spot Kamaldeen Sulemana’s push on Denzel Dumfries in the build-up to Atalanta’s equalizer.

Then, he refused to point to the spot when Giorgio Scalvini tackled Davide Frattesi inside La Dea’s box.

Finally, Ederson’s cynical challenge on Dumfries also slipped Manganiello’s eye.

What’s even more concerning is that his VAR assistants, Matteo Gariglio and Davide Chiffi, refused to intervene.

Mauro Bergonzi Slams Gianluca Manganiello After Inter Milan 1-1 Atalanta Draw

“Dumfries tells the referee that he was hit on his left leg,” Bergonzi said. “The Atalanta player’s hand rests on the Inter player, and then, as he is about to fall, his leg strikes the Atalanta player. There is no foul; no irregularity is committed with the hand. In my judgment, the goal is absolutely regular, and Inter’s bench protests are unjustified.

“Then the final incident: Scalvini is late and strikes Frattesi, the referee sees nothing and allows play to continue. Then, he blows for a foul by Dumfries on Ederson, which is never a foul, without noticing that Ederson actually commits the foul.

“Frattesi, clearly ahead, is hit on the right foot by Scalvini: the images are unequivocal, yet no review is called. VAR official Gariglio does not summon Manganiello to the monitor, who sees nothing, with Inter denied a clear penalty.

“Similar incidents occurred in 2021 during the Inter-Juventus clash, when Dumfries struck Alex Sandro and Juventus earned a penalty in a very similar situation.

“Likewise, last season in Inter-Verona, Darmian’s challenge on Magnani. warranted a penalty. In the Scalvini-Frattesi situation, it is evident that the referee was blocked and saw nothing.”