Inter Milan 1-0 Lecce – Referee Maresca Slammed For Harshly Booking France Striker | OneFootball

Referee Fabio Maresca made several questionable decisions during last night’s Serie A showdown between Inter Milan and Lecce.

According to the Italian media via L’Interista, the 44-year-old wrongly punished Nerazzurri megastar Marcus Thuram in the first half.

Inter had two penalty appeals denied in the opening 45 minutes.

First, Marcus Thuram went to the ground under the challenge of Santiago Pierotti.

However, Fabio Maresca waved play on and even showed the Frenchman a yellow card for simulation.

Fabio Maresca Slammed for Showing Marcus Thuram Yellow Card in Inter Milan 1-0 Lecce Win

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 09: Referee Fabio Maresca reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 9, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Though it was not a penalty by any stretch of the imagination, there was a soft contact between Thuram and Pierotti.

As such, Maresca’s decision to book the 28-year-old was wrong, drawing widespread criticism from the local media.

Thuram may have thrown himself to the ground lightly, but it was hardly enough for a booking.

After that, Maresca awarded Inter a penalty as Danilo Veiga tripped Ange-Yoan Bonny inside the box.

Yet, the experienced referee changed his mind after reviewing the situation on the side-pitch monitor.