Former Serie A referee Graziano Cesari slammed Maurizio Mariani after Sunday’s dramatic 2-2 draw between Torino and Inter Milan.
During the latest episode of ‘Pressing,’ Cesari assessed Mariani’s controversial decision to award Torino a penalty, as reported by FCInter1908.
Inter Milan spurned a two-goal lead in a high-scoring stalemate at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino yesterday.
Despite going 2-0 up, courtesy of goals from Marcus Thuram and Yann Bisseck, the Nerazzurri failed to extend their winning streak to five games.
Indeed, Giovanni Simeone sparked Torino’s comeback after a well-crafted move in the 70th minute.
However, Roberto D’Aversa’s side received a huge boost from referee Maurizio Mariani.
Though he initially refused to sanction Carlos Augusto’s handball, he ultimately pointed to the spot after a dubious VAR review.
Duvan Zapata’s head hit Augusto’s arm from close range, triggering the VAR intervention.
Meanwhile, Nikola Vlasic kept his composure from the spot to help Torino end a seven-game losing streak against Inter in Serie A.
Graziano Cesari Slams Maurizio Mariani After Torino 2-2 Inter Milan Draw
“The action in the 75th minute continues, nobody protests, then suddenly the play stops,” Cesari said. “Mariani says the VAR room has called him, and he goes to review the footage.
“He then decides on a penalty for an unnatural arm by number 30, Carlos Augusto. We point out that Zapata’s jump is perfectly legal. There is no foul on Dimarco.
“But then this right hand of Carlos Augusto.
“For weeks, we’ve heard about close distance, unexpected ball, these two arms of the Inter defender going towards the Torino player.
“Doesn’t it also look like a movement, an instinctive gesture to protect himself from contact? That’s how I see it.”
“I’ll show you another episode to clarify this. Last year, Inter–Fiorentina, an incident that led to a penalty for a ball bouncing from Gosens’ head onto Darmian’s arm.
“But does that look like a penalty? No, absolutely not,” he concluded.
