Referee chief reveals ‘correct decision’ in Milan vs. Lazio VAR row | OneFootball

Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi gives his verdict on the Milan-Lazio VAR controversy involving Strahinja Pavlović and Alessio Romagnoli: ‘The correct decision was a corner kick.’

Referee and VAR infuriated Lazio in their last Serie A match against Milan as the Biancocelesti felt they were denied a penalty kick for a Pavlovic handball in the dying minutes.

Milan vs. Lazio VAR incident explained

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 29: Referee Giuseppe Collu during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Referee Giuseppe Collu was urged at the pitchside monitor to review the incident. The match official did realise that Pavlovic had touched the ball with his elbow from a Romagnoli header, but also noted a foul on Pavlovic in the build-up.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 29: Alessio Romagnoli of SS Lazio shoots during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Therefore, the game resumed with a free-kick for Milan, prompting Lazio to boycott post-match press conferences as a sign of protest.

Lazio’s only reaction to the referee’s decision was a picture of the incident on social media, which they captioned as: “We are sorry that we cannot go to the press room this evening, but we’ll let the images speak for us.”

Rocchi comments on Milan vs. Lazio VAR row

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Referee Gianluca Rocchi during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and AFC Ajax at Stamford Bridge on November 05, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Serie A refereeing official Rocchi reviewed the decision and explained to DAZN (via TMW) where the referee and VAR got it wrong.

“The incident was worthy of a 15-second-long check,” said Rocchi.

“It was not a penalty, but it’s not even a foul for the defending team. The correct decision was a corner kick.”

Lazio and Milan will meet again this coming Thursday in a Coppa Italia Round of 16 tie at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.