Milan anger. Referees under indictment, Marchetti will not be stopped

The silence after the perfect storm. To the words of Paolo Maldini, Milan decided not to add anything else: the director of the technical area for the first time launched a critical message towards the referee class and on the use of technologies, and it seemed sufficient to make people understand the discontent of the environment towards the match direction and a mistake which, in the club’s opinion, creates a great damage to the team in the middle of the championship fight.

Ironically, the third mistake came in Milan-Udinese, on the tenth anniversary of Muntari’s goal-non-goal that opened to Conte’s Juve championship (against Allegri’s Milan) and to the following Juventus cycle. It’s been years that seem like centuries, football has changed, Milan has changed, technologies are more sophisticated, but what once would have been called a dossier is already in place. There are three key episodes: the one in the direct confrontation with Napoli, 19 December. Referee Massa, Di Paolo at the Var. In the final cross by Ballo-Touré and head by Giroud, deviations and ball to Kessie who scores what would be 1-1. Massa concedes the goal, but for the Var there is an offside by Giroud who remained on the ground after a tackle, and is considered influential in the action.

And then the most discussed, the mistake of Serra who after Milan-Spezia ended the game agitated and consoled by the Rossoneri players. A very clear mistake in this case, not having applied the advantage rule that would have led to Messias’ goal for too much haste. From there the chaos and the success of La Spezia matured in a few minutes. These decisions cost Milan 6 points. Heavy points, and after the Milan-Udinese episode the reflection is general: technology should be used better, inexperienced referees are not suitable for delicate matches, we should play more, because the actual playing times are sometimes minimal.

The direction of Milan-Udinese was not particularly liked by the referees, but Marchetti (who had already directed two Inter matches at the San Siro) is considered among the most promising young players. Rocchi will not stop him: whether he is on the pitch or at the Var, the Ostia Lido referee will probably also be present at the twenty-eighth. Guida – who has refereed with Milan three times this season and was at the Var on two occasions, including with Udinese – did not have very clear images available to say that Udogie had scored with his arm. He watched a dozen films from different angles but nothing: in cases like this it had to remain the decision of the field. And the doubt is also fueled by the player’s half-admissions.

There is a slight annoyance in the refereeing sector for Maldini’s sentence on young referees: at Can they think that the generational change must be carried out, it is necessary because new life is needed. Rocchi does not necessarily want to impose young people but he certainly wants them to grow and he has taken this path that he does not abandon; it would take him a moment to bring in only the veterans, but he wants to pursue a certain mission. Like that of the rigorini which – gradually – have significantly decreased.