Juventus triumphed over Napoli with a score of 2-0 in Sunday’s much-anticipated Serie A match, showcasing the struggles of both teams this season.
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The match, held at the Allianz Stadium, saw impressive second-half goals from Alajbegovic and Boga, which ultimately decided the outcome following a lackluster first half.
A pivotal moment occurred just ten minutes into the game when Koopmeiners fouled Anguissa with a harsh challenge. Speculation arose regarding a possible VAR review, but no call was made, allowing referee Sozza to let play continue without issuing a booking.
😳 Newspapers in no doubt: it was a red!
Judging by public reaction, the controversy surrounding this decision is significant. Major sports dailies such as Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport agreed that the foul deserved a red card.
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Gazzetta assigned Sozza a low rating of 4.5, emphasizing that “even in the early minutes, he neglected to book McKennie. In the 11th minute, he omitted to penalize Koopmeiners for a serious foul play that should have resulted in a red card.”
Corriere awarded a slightly higher rating of 5 to the referee, noting, “Sozza’s officiating was anything but satisfactory, particularly in the match’s opening quarter, where the decision against Koopmeiners raises lasting questions. His failure to issue a foul or a yellow card reflects significant errors on the field.”
Former referee Gianpaolo Calvarese commented that “a red would have been excessive,” but added that if Sozza had issued one, VAR likely would not have intervened.
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Additionally, Corriere pointed out that Lucumi might also have faced a sending-off for a clumsy challenge on Lucca while already on a yellow card, suggesting that a second booking could have been warranted.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
