Sarri slams referees: "We need foreigners", Lazio issue statement | OneFootball

The Inter–Lazio evening ended with controversy and strong words. After the 2-0 defeat at San Siro, Maurizio Sarri did not spare criticism for referee Manganiello and, more generally, for the Italian refereeing class.

Lazio, Sarri attacks: “We need foreign referees, the level is too low.” Lazio “calms him down” with a statement

The Biancocelesti coach, visibly irritated, spoke of officiating that was “not up to standard” and proposed a drastic solution: “I hope Serie A can get help from foreign referees, they should be brought in from abroad.”

The spark: the missed booking for Lautaro

Everything started from an incident in the middle of the first half. Lautaro Martínez fouled Zaccagni, but the referee did not book him. Sarri’s reaction was vehement, and it was he who received the yellow card. “Why did I get angry? For a simple reason: Lautaro’s foul on Zaccagni was a booking. If he had been booked, Zaccagni wouldn’t have had to leave the pitch. Instead, not only was he not sanctioned, but we were forced to play exposed on that side. Even Padre Pio would have been angry,” said the coach with bitter irony.

“I don’t see referees up to standard”

Continuing his post-match analysis, Sarri broadened the discussion to the refereeing category as a whole: “I don’t see referees up to standard, including tonight’s. It’s time to bring in referees from abroad: immediate help is needed.” A harsh criticism, but one that was accompanied by a sporting acknowledgment: “Inter is clearly stronger than us and would have won anyway.”

Lazio’s response: “Heated words, no influence on the outcome”

To calm the controversy, S.S. Lazio intervened in the morning with an official statement. In the statement, the club clarified that “the comments made by the coach in the heat of the moment should be read in the emotional context following the match” and emphasized that “the referee’s work in no way influenced the course of the match or the final result.”

The club also called for balanced judgment, recalling that “in a period of great generational change in the refereeing class, it is essential to support this process by encouraging the training and growth of young referees.”

Figc–Serie A League meeting on refereeing

Lazio’s statement concluded with a reference to the upcoming meeting between the FIGC and Serie A League, scheduled precisely to discuss recent tensions and consider new forms of collaboration to improve the level of the Italian refereeing system.

A relationship to rebuild

Sarri’s statements, though born from a moment of frustration, reflect a discontent shared by many coaches. However, the Biancocelesti club chose an institutional approach, preferring the path of dialogue and responsibility. It now remains to be seen whether the meeting between the Federation and the clubs can truly represent a turning point for the Italian refereeing world, which is often under pressure and at the center of increasingly frequent criticism.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.