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

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.

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.

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.”

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.