Francesco Totti spoke on behalf of Roma and blasted the VAR officials after a 2-2 draw with Inter. “How did they not see that penalty? It’s shameful.”
The Giallorossi only sent director and club legend Totti to speak to the media after the game rather than players or Coach Eusebio Di Francesco.
Francesco Totti spoke on behalf of Roma and blasted the VAR officials after a 2-2 draw with Inter. “How did they not see that penalty? It’s shameful.”
The Giallorossi only sent director and club legend Totti to speak to the media after the game rather than players or Coach Eusebio Di Francesco.
“It was an open game between two great teams who scored four goals, created many more chances, hit the woodwork and were denied a penalty. It was very exciting,” the director told Sky Sport Italia.
The reference was to an incident 30 seconds before the opening Inter goal, when Danilo D’Ambrosio clearly tripped Nicolò Zaniolo just inside the penalty area.
The remarkable element is that Fabbri in the VAR booth did not alert referee Gianluca Rocchi to the foul or ask him to view it again.
“Everyone saw it, there’s no need to describe. I want to know, and we all do, how those in the VAR booth didn’t see that foul. We all saw it on a far smaller screen. It’s shameful.
“Why don’t you call them and ask how they didn’t see that? This is precisely what VAR was introduced for. Rocchi might’ve seen it or not, but that’s not the issue. The VAR officials had to see it. Fabbri was watching another game on his screen, evidently.
“We cannot go on like this. There are meetings, we go here and there to discuss how VAR is used, when and in what way, then it’s not used on an incident like this?
“That’s not because it’s Roma, it could happen to any club. It’s impossible. Someone ought to call Fabbri and ask: ‘What were you looking at?’ It’s all fine to laugh and joke, but this is serious.
“We’re not seeking alibis, but this changes the game. We could’ve taken the lead, moments later Inter score. It changes the entire match and that can change an entire season.”
Zaniolo put in another very impressive performance after his showing against Real Madrid.
“Zaniolo plays like a veteran. As he gets to play consistently, he finds the strength and technique, the explosive change of pace and creativity to become a truly great player. Just don’t let him hear me say that.
“The lads deserve credit for reaching the next phase of the Champions League. We are trying to find ourselves again in Serie A and we’re slowly getting ourselves on track.
“We’ve had ups and downs, but we’re trying to rediscover the confidence and the hunger to prove just how strong we are. I think the Coach is trying to find the best solution and system with the players at his disposal.
“I think this is a starting point, even if it’s only a point, because we saw the Roma that we want.”