Juventus were left furious after a controversial red card overshadowed a thrilling clash with Inter Milan.
The turning point came just before half-time when referee Federico La Penna sent off Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu for a second yellow card following a challenge on Alessandro Bastoni.
Replays suggested the contact was minimal, and Bastoni was accused of exaggerating the fall. Under current rules, VAR cannot review second yellow cards though changes approved by International Football Association Board may soon allow that.
Juventus officials reacted angrily at half-time, with director Giorgio Chiellini and chief executive Damien Comolli speaking out after the match. Italy’s refereeing chief Gianluca Rocchi later admitted the decision was “clearly wrong.”
Despite going down to 10 men, Juventus impressed. They controlled much of the game and showed resilience. After Inter took the lead through an own goal by Andrea Cambiaso, the same player quickly equalised.
Inter eventually found the winner when young striker Francesco Pio Esposito scored with a well-placed header. Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli later equalised again, but in the final minutes Piotr Zielinski struck the decisive goal to seal Inter’s victory.
The result strengthens Inter’s position at the top of Serie A, while Juventus are left frustrated not just by the defeat, but by a refereeing decision that dominated an otherwise exciting and high-quality match.
