Italian League Sanctions Referee for Misuse of VAR in Two Matches

ROME, WEDNESDAY — The Italian Referees Association (AIA) acknowledged that two of their referees made errors in two matches during the fourth week of Serie A Italy, last weekend. The two main referees officiated the matches between Verona and Juventus, as well as Napoli versus Pisa.

AIA Chief Gianluca Rocchi revealed that a reassessment of several controversial decisions involving their members has been conducted from Saturday (20/9/2025) to Monday (23/9/2025). Rocchi acknowledged that the protests made by two coaches against the match referee's decisions, namely Juventus Coach Igor Tudor and Pisa Coach Alberto Gilardino, were indeed justified.

Tudor expressed disappointment with the leadership of referee Antonio Rapuano, who made two controversial decisions. First, Rapuano awarded Juve a penalty due to a handball by right wing-back Joao Mario.

In the replay, Mario did not look at the ball, so the ball touching his hand was an accident. Despite having watched the video assistant referee (VAR) replay, Rapuano still awarded a penalty to Verona. Verona's forward, Gift Orban, scored from the penalty spot to help his team equalize the score at 1-1.

Secondly, Tudor protested Rapuano's decision to only issue a yellow card to Orban for the elbow incident to Juventus defender Federico Gatti. Again, Rapuano had the opportunity to review the VAR replay. He still deemed that Orban did not commit a serious foul that warranted a red card.

"The decision (penalty) was wrong, there should have been no penalty," Rocchi told La Gazzetta dello Spor.

"It's true that the referee gave a red card. The player (Orban) looked at his opponent before the incident (elbow) occurred," added Rocchi.

Meanwhile, Napoli's dramatic victory of 3-2 over Pisa was not without a controversial decision. Referee Valerio Crezzini overturned a decision to award a penalty to grant Pisa a penalty in the tenth minute.

Crezzini initially pointed to the white spot after Pisa's winger, Mehdi Leris, was brought down by Napoli's midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne. However, through communication with VAR, Crezzini overturned the penalty for Pisa because Leris committed a handball while losing his balance.

"I don't want to comment on individual decisions (of the referee). I'm focused on ensuring the squad maintains its intensity level," Gilardino said of the decision, as quoted by Corriere dello Sport.

Rocchi stated that the focus of the referee and VAR should not be on the handball, but rather on the step taken by De Bruyne that caused Leris to fall.

"Handball should not be considered a violation in both attacking and defensive positions. The VAR and AVAR (VAR assistant) made a mistake in analyzing the replay. What should have been reviewed was the stamp on the Pisa player's foot," said Rocchi.

Rocchi stated that the errors made by the officials in the two matches involving the top two teams in the standings were due to VAR and AVAR being too hasty in reviewing the replays of the incidents on the field. According to him, VAR and AVAR should be more meticulous in providing recommendations to the main referee. Likewise, the main referee could also be more observant in reviewing the incidents and communicate better with VAR and AVAR.

"We are always very firm in determining the match officials. Those who are assigned (in the two games) are among the best VAR officials," said Rocchi.

Rocchi added that the penalties for the referees in the two matches have been announced. "The penalties pertain to disciplinary sanctions, not related to technical sanctions," he said.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Rapuano received the heaviest punishment. He was demoted from Serie A to Serie B for subsequent matches.

The VAR and AVAR officials will only be rested during the fifth week match, which will take place next weekend. They are assured to return to duty no later than after the international match break in October.