Juventus administrators Giorgio Chiellini and Damien Comolli protested the ‘completely unacceptable’ and ‘embarrassing’ refereeing in , asking Gianluca Rocchi to resign.
It was a chaotic Derby d’Italia and a controversial one too, with Andrea Cambiaso scoring at each ends, then Manuel Locatelli replying to the Francesco Pio Esposito header.
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Even when right down to 10 males, Juve saved preventing again for 2-2 and finally capitulated on the ninetieth minute when Piotr Zielinski’s strike went by way of Locatelli’s legs to wrong-foot an unsure Michele Di Gregorio.
That Pierre Kalulu purple card simply earlier than half-time modified the sport, because the second yellow was awarded for no contact with Alessandro Bastoni.
Juventus take unprecedented stand in opposition to refereeing
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Manuel Locatelli of Juventus celebrates scoring his group’s second objective through the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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Luciano Spalletti due to this fact didn’t communicate to the media, as Juventus despatched administrators Chiellini and Comolli as an alternative.
“We can not discuss soccer after what occurred as we speak,”
“One thing utterly unacceptable occurred as we speak, it doesn’t matter whether or not it occurs to us or another person, and from tomorrow presumably VAR must change, as a result of this isn’t acceptable that so many errors maintain taking place even in massive video games like this.
“We’ve been making an attempt to say because the begin of the season that the extent of refereeing is less than the duty, and this sadly is the spectacle we confirmed to the remainder of the world as we speak. It occurred to many groups this season, we’ve got to vary, we can not maintain procrastinating the best way we all the time do in Italian soccer.”
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being despatched off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence through the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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Kalulu made the ‘VAR’ gesture along with his arms, however they may not intervene, because the
This too is one thing that is perhaps modified when IFAB re-evaluates the foundations going ahead, together with giving coaches the choice of requesting a sure variety of VAR appeals.
“It has been because the begin of the season that many golf equipment have been complaining the infrastructure is simply not on the degree of Serie A. I don’t know in the event that they’re not educated correctly, less than the duty, regardless of the cause for it, the very fact is the referees are less than the usual of Serie A soccer.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 13: Giorgio Chiellini attends the Gold Carpet through the FIFA Membership World Cup 2025 Ultimate match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Picture by Michael Loccisano/Getty Photographs)
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So are Juventus calling for refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi to face down?
“If you wish to make it clear, it’s apparent that the group of referees aren’t working, so if Rocchi retains saying he’ll go, then we’ll see now if he does go,” added Chiellini.
“Final week De Rossi complained, earlier than that Gasperini and Conte, so we aren’t the primary and never the final. One thing clearly isn’t working and one of many first issues we will do is change the protocol.
“Look, it’s disappointing, the referees are identical to gamers and coaches, however it’s apparent La Penna was less than this recreation.”
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Damien Comolli, Normal Supervisor of Juventus seems to be on previous to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
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Spalletti had already complained about refereeing in Serie A and the Coppa Italia final week, so his temper definitely wouldn’t have been improved by La Penna’s efficiency this night.
“Clearly, as a membership we really feel as we speak is an embarrassing,” Comolli advised Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s embarrassing what occurred as we speak, and we really feel strongly as a membership from the possession, to the followers, to the gamers, to the coach, it can not occur once more. It’s been taking place many times, many times, tonight was the abstract of what we’ve seen this season.
“For a recreation like this, with the entire world watching, it’s simply embarrassing.”
There was footage of Chiellini, Comolli and different Juventus figures screaming angrily at referee La Penna within the tunnel going into half-time, so did they communicate to him afterwards?
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“No, we’ve got not spoken to La Penna after the sport,” confirmed Comolli.
“It is vitally troublesome to simply accept injustice like this, very troublesome. Now we have to say one thing. We spoke to Luciano, Francois and Giorgio. I didn’t communicate to the gamers, I simply advised them effectively achieved, they fought very effectively, however I don’t assume we will discuss soccer tonight.
“The coach is extraordinarily pissed off and disillusioned, it’s completely unacceptable.”