Roma coach Paulo Fonseca ‘did not understand’ the referee’s decisions in a 0-0 draw with Sassuolo, above all Pedro’s red card.
Pedro was sent off for two bookable offences just before half-time, while both teams had goals disallowed using VAR.
However, the Giallorossi had penalty appeals for handball and felt Pedro Obiang was very fortunate to only get a yellow card for his high tackle on Lorenzo Pellegrini’s ankle.
Roma coach Paulo Fonseca ‘did not understand’ the referee’s decisions in a 0-0 draw with Sassuolo, above all Pedro’s red card.
Pedro was sent off for two bookable offences just before half-time, while both teams had goals disallowed using VAR.
However, the Giallorossi had penalty appeals for handball and felt Pedro Obiang was very fortunate to only get a yellow card for his high tackle on Lorenzo Pellegrini’s ankle.
“I am very proud of the lads, as we played very well, had the better scoring opportunities, were organised in defence and stopped a great team like Sassuolo from creating chances,” Fonseca told Sky Sport Italia.
“I didn’t like the refereeing, though. I don’t understand why Pedro’s first foul was a yellow card. After that, I saw the situation with Pellegrini, how is that a yellow? I know the referee might not see it well, but VAR ought to see that.
“There was also potentially a penalty for us with the handball, but again VAR did not intervene.”
The coach was sent off during the half-time break for dissent, just moments after Pedro’s dismissal.
“I was talking about the first yellow card incident for Pedro, I just said we had very few fouls and yet got all the cards. That’s all.”
Edin Dzeko again wasn’t quite sharp enough in his finishing and hasn’t fully found his form after COVID.
“Dzeko worked really hard for the team and when he does so much defensive work, having been out of action for a while, he’s inevitably not going to be as sharp upfront. I still think we did enough in the second half to deserve a goal.
“Playing Dzeko and Borja Mayoral together could be an option. We changed our style a little today, putting Pedro behind Dzeko to prevent Sassuolo playing centrally, but that is a possibility.”