Juve-Inter is the big match of the 25th day of Serie A: controversy already erupts over referee designation
Juve-Inter, è già polemica: la scelta dell’arbitro e quel precedente che fece infuriare i nerazzurri – SerieAnews
The Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter is never a match like any other. Regardless of the momentum of the teams, the climate in these clashes is always tense, full of expectation, and above all, controversy. Every refereeing decision, every episode, every foul is amplified as if it could change the final outcome of the season.
There is nothing more risky than refereeing such a match, and in fact the name of the referee who will be designated to direct the match often becomes the subject of discussion even before the match begins. Such is the case with Maurizio Mariani, the 42-year-old Roman referee who will have the burden of directing the highly anticipated challenge on Feb. 16.
Already in the past, Mariani has been the protagonist of episodes that have fueled controversy in the context of this challenge between the Bianconeri and the Nerazzurri. In fact, his name is linked to one of the most discussed episodes in recent years: the one involving a penalty in favor of Juventus in the 2021 Derby d’Italia.
Il rigore che scatenò il caos: un precedente difficile da dimenticare
It was October 2021 when Mariani was refereeing the match between Inter and Juventus at the San Siro. The match, which would later end in a 1-1 draw thanks to goals by Dzeko and Dybala, has remained in fans’ memories mainly because of a controversial episode that changed the fate of the match in the last minutes.
Il rigore che scatenò il caos: un precedente difficile da dimenticare (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
The score was still on 1-0 for Inter when, in minute 86, a contact between Alex Sandro and Dumfries in the Inter area raised several discussions. At first, Mariani let it go, giving the impression that there was nothing irregular. However, moments later, the referee was called back by VAR to review the action on the monitor.
After seeing the images, Mariani decided to award the penalty to Juventus, which then allowed Dybala to tie the game in the 89th minute.
The decision was not well received by everyone, and Inter coach Simone Inzaghi did not hide his frustration. Indeed, the episode triggered a furious reaction from the Nerazzurri coach, who was ejected for throwing a bib on the field, a gesture that put Mariani’s decisions even more under the spotlight.
Le parole di Inzaghi: tra autocritica e rabbia
At the end of the match, Simone Inzaghi tried to be self-critical for his men’s lack of attention in a numerical superiority situation. But the coach also stated that, as a coach, seeing the referee within a few steps of the action and giving the signal that everything was okay had made him react with anger.
Le parole di Inzaghi: tra autocritica e rabbia (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
“I think we had to be more careful in the penalty situation because we were in a numerical superiority. However, as a coach, in the 89th minute, you see the referee two meters away signaling that everything was okay, it’s normal to get angry like I did,” Inzaghi said.
“I was preparing the substitution for Vecino and I threw the helmet on the field. The expulsion fits, I made a mistake as did referee Mariani at two meters to say everything was okay,” he concluded, a mix of self-criticism and frustration over the episode that could have cost him dearly.
Il ritorno di Mariani: tensione alle stelle
As the Derby d’Italia approaches, the memory of that penalty and Inzaghi’s subsequent sending off has certainly not faded. Maurizio Mariani is preparing to once again direct a match that has always been synonymous with spectacle, but also with controversy.
The fact that he is actually directing this match certainly arouses curiosity and a bit of apprehension, both for fans and insiders. The pressure, for Mariani, will certainly be very high. Every decision he makes, every assessment, will be under the magnifying glass.
And while it is true that past episodes can affect expectations, it is equally true that the Derby d’Italia is always a minefield for whoever happens to be directing it. One question arises: will Mariani be able to keep calm and manage the match without setting off renewed chaos? The answer will only come at the final whistle.
This article Juve-Inter, it’s already a controversy: the referee’s choice and that precedent that infuriated the Nerazzurri appeared first on SerieANews.
