Rocchi gives verdict on Juventus vs. Inter VAR decision

Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi has explained why Inter protests were rejected for the winning Juventus goal in their 4-3 thriller.

Today saw the return to DAZN Italia of the programme Open VAR, where the footage and audio from communication between referee and VAR is aired and analysed.

There were quite a few incidents from the Serie A season so far, including the controversial penalty that was revoked during Milan vs. Bologna.

However, when it came to Juventus 4-3 Inter, refereeing chief Rocchi approved of the approach taken to the decisive Vasilije Adzic goal.

Inter had complained that there was a foul from Khephren Thuram on Ange-Yoan Bonny in the build-up to the goal, but both the referee and VAR judged it to be fair.

Juventus goal did not warrant VAR intervention

“The goal is valid, there are no clear fouls,” agreed Rocchi in the DAZN Italia studio.

“The contact is down where the legs and the ball are, there’s nothing wrong with it. There is a touch on the chest, but certainly not enough to warrant a foul.”

As it was such a decisive moment of the match, should the referee have been sent to view it on the VAR monitor anyway?

“I always tell the lads, when you have doubts, then send the referee to view it, but in this case there were no doubts,” assured Rocchi.

The designator also assured that VAR will be wary of slight touches that might seem worse in slow motion on a zoomed in camera.

“A touch on the chest, or the chin, is not necessarily a foul. If someone is struck in a serious fashion, we will intervene with a yellow or red card, but in all other situations I’d urge the players not to hold their faces and play-act, because it just creates more tension on the field.

“We want the freedom to make decisions without this irritating attitude. I want to clarify that was not what Bonny was doing, but I am just taking this opportunity to warn in future.”