Though virtually everybody was essential of the choice, the AIA (Italian Referees Affiliation) insist it was right to revoke the penalty
The incident brought on quite a lot of controversy, with pundits from DAZN, Sky Sport Italia and extra all adamant this represented an over-reach of VAR and nicely past the remit of the ‘clear and apparent error’ for intervention.
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Referee Federico La Penna on the pitch had given the penalty for Federico Baschirotto’s foul on Roberto Piccoli, however he modified his thoughts following the VAR overview.
AIA consultant to defend the intervention.
Officers again VAR and referee after Fiorentina-Cremonese
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Roberto Piccoli of ACF Fiorentina in motion throughout the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Picture by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Pictures)
“For the fee, this can be a excellent name from the VAR and AVAR Gariglio, you can’t give a penalty for a state of affairs like this, additionally trying to the previous.
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“From the VAR sales space, they present referee La Penna that Baschirotto is held on the neck, then he falls down, however this isn’t a foul, he simply collides with Piccoli as a consequence of falling down.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Roberto Piccoli of ACF Fiorentina in motion throughout the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Picture by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Pictures)
A lot of the pundits watching that footage argued that the 2 gamers have been tussling with one another in a bodily battle, so calling the ‘first’ foul was excessively harsh.
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“The 2 gamers are attempting to take a place and defend the ball, however Piccoli then drags the Cremonese participant down. VAR made the appropriate resolution,” insisted De Marco.
What of those that say that is over-reach when the referee made the choice on the pitch?
“It’s all the time higher to have a VAR On-Area Evaluation too many than one too few.”