"This is a disgrace" – Giorgio Chiellini slams refereeing and Serie A head of officials after Italy derby
Juventus director of football strategy Giorgio Chiellini delivered a scathing statement following the controversial officiating in the 'Derby d’Italia.'
Details: The legendary Juventus and Italy defender is convinced that referee Federico La Penna’s decision to send off Pierre Kalulu in the first half completely stripped the match of any sporting integrity. Chiellini acknowledged that referees are as human as the players, but insisted that their current level of preparation is disgraceful and does not match the standards of Europe’s elite leagues.
The main focus of Chiellini’s criticism was Gianluca Rocchi, the head of the refereeing corps. Chiellini expressed outrage that the chief official didn’t even attend the season’s most crucial match in Milan, especially amid rumors of his imminent resignation.
“We saw a group of people who simply cannot do their jobs,” said the Bianconeri director, emphasizing that someone must be personally held accountable for the systemic failure in referee training.
Giorgio also called for an immediate review of the current VAR protocols and refereeing rules. He’s convinced that football offers ways to avoid situations where strict adherence to the letter of the law kills the spectacle and spirit of the game. Chiellini believes the current system needs sweeping reforms, as mistakes are becoming systematic and directly impacting the league table standings.
Reminder: Cameras captured a heated confrontation between Spalletti and Juventus management on one side, and the referees on the other, during halftime of the clash against Inter.
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
