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Journalist Mediaset Riccardo Trevisani commented on the Serie A refereeing during Terzo Tempo Calcio Napoli, highlighting some incidents.

Mediaset commentator Riccardo Trevisani spoke during the broadcast Terzo Tempo Calcio Napoli on Televomero. The journalist revisited the penalty incident in Inter-Napoli and, more generally, on Serie A refereeing.

Serie A, Riccardo Trevisani’s intervention

Trevisani starts with the controversies surrounding the VAR system: “The post-match was heavily dominated by VAR controversies. In November 2019, Ancelotti said ‘Enough with VAR, the referees on the field should be the ones to arbitrate.’ Today Conte says ‘Enough with the referees, VAR should be the one arbitrating’.

“Poor referees” in Serie A

The reality is that we have poor referees on the field and poor ones at VAR. If we allow discussions on every intervention, we will never end. For me, the contact on Çalhanoğlu is definitely not a penalty, even less than the one on Politano in Empoli. Every time we enter a discussion where, out of a hundred people, seventy think one way and thirty another.”

On the penalty awarded in Inter-Napoli

“From where Mariani is positioned, it may seem like Dumfries receives a stomp, hence a penalty. The problem is that VAR clearly sees that it is not a stomp, but cannot intervene. If players like Dumfries dive, for referees who are not even at the level of Collina, the management becomes extremely complicated.

No other league would whistle a penalty like that, except Serie A. It is disappointing to see that the protocol is not being followed. Even for the AIA and UEFA, it is difficult, but the bitterness remains, because a big match could have been decided by this incident. Mariani refereed very well for 90 minutes, yet he will only be remembered for that mistake. It is a pity that the stain remains, even though mistakes can happen and VAR does not help; it is a vicious circle. It makes one reflect that the referee designator asks every week to limit easy penalties, but there is always one every week.”

On the Serie A championship and Napoli-Roma

Thus Trevisani: “It seems more like the Premier League than Serie A, with very interesting matches and direct clashes between the top teams. If Juric were still on the Roma bench, it would have been an easier task for Napoli. But the change of coach, with an experienced coach like Ranieri, certainly brings a positive shake-up. That’s why the Giallorossi will be a tougher opponent than one would have thought a week ago.”

On Meret

“Meret has improved a lot in recent years and has played good games, but in my opinion, he made mistakes on both the goals by Lookman and Çalhanoğlu.”