Inter Milan 0-1 AC Milan – Serie A Designator Delivers Verdict On Pavlovic-Thuram Penalty: “Cross Doesn’t Change The Situation” | OneFootball

Serie A designator Gianluca Rocchi delivered his verdict on the penalty awarded in Saturday’s clash between Inter and AC Milan.

Speaking to DAZN via FCInterNews, Rocchi backed Simone Sozza’s decision to penalize Strahinja Pavlovic’s tackle on Marcus Thuram.

Following an underwhelming performance in Inter’s 3-0 win over Fiorentina last month, Inter were skeptical about Sozza’s appointment.

Moreover, the 38-year-old referee failed to live up to expectations in last season’s Supercoppa Italiana clash between the Milan rivals.

Therefore, there was understandable tension around his display at San Siro.

Although Simone Sozza made several minor errors on Sunday, his most significant decision was spot-on.

Indeed, he awarded a penalty to Inter after consulting with the VAR booth, having initially waved the play to continue.

However, Pavlovic’s sliding tackle on Marcus Thuram couldn’t go unnoticed, even though the Frenchman had already made a cross.

According to Rocchi, Sozza was correct to give Inter a penalty, even though Thuram was no longer in possession of the ball.

Gianluca Rocchi Delivers Verdict on Inter 0-1 AC Milan Penalty Decision

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“The concept of the OFR has changed,” Rocchi said. “You intervene when the foul is reckless.

“In this case, the referee carries out the review on his own in front of the monitor, without anyone pressuring him.

“The challenge is a penalty and a yellow card,” he added. “If it had been a normal contact after the ball was released, it wouldn’t even be a penalty.

“The intensity of the foul is what leads us to an On-Field Review. Otherwise, every contact would be a penalty.

“The fact that the cross had already been made doesn’t change anything.

“Last year, we awarded a penalty for an identical incident in Fiorentina–Lazio,” Rocchi recalled. “And this year we missed one in Juventus–Lazio.