Another refereeing shambles

Season 2025-26

Game 13, Serie A

Saturday, November 29, 2025

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Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Milan Lazio 1-0

Lazio lose but have much room for complaint as yet another refereeing shambolic decision denies a possible penalty

Source Lazio Wiki

The team

With Danilo Cataldi out injured, Maurizio Sarri decided to put Matias Vecino at the centre of the Biancoceleste midfield. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru returned fit enough for the bench and was joined by another two long term injured players Nuno Tavares and Taty Castellanos.

First half

Lazio started with a bang. In the second minute, Toma Basic took a free kick and crossed into the box, Mario Gila, like he did two weeks earlier at San Siro, rose above all the others and headed towards the goal. Mike Maignan with an incredible save managed to parry the header despite being far from the ball. An amazing feat, probably the best save of the season so far in the whole of Serie A.

Milan tried to put pressure onto the Lazio midfield and for a large part of the first half dominated but did not create much. In the 31st minute, Mattia Zaccagni dribbled past Fikayo Tomori and from close to the by-line tried to surprise Maignan, but the French International parried. In the 42nd minute the first chance for the hosts. Cross from the left by Davide Bartesaghi, Christopher Nkunku prolonged, Tomori tried a volley which went wide.

Second half

Six minutes in the second half and Milan went ahead with a splendid combination Alexis Saelemaekers – Youssouf Fofana – Tomori which allowed the Englishman to cross low in the box, Rafael Leão anticipated Gila and beat Ivan Provedel.

Sarri threw in Castellanos and Dele Bashiru for Vecino and Boulaye Dia. In the 63rd minute Bartesaghi crossed from the left Leão headed the ball towards the goal but Provedel palmed it away. Ruben Loftus-Cheek substituted Tomori and Ricci came in for Nkunku for Milan, Pedro, Nuno Tavares and Tijani Noslin substituted Gustav Isaksen, Luca Pellegrini and Basic.

The Biancocelesti put pressure on the Milan midfield but there were hardly any chances for both teams until the refereeing controversy in the fifth minute of injury time. Nuno Tavares crossed from the left, Alessio Romagnoli tried a volley which was deflected with the shoulder by Strahinja Pavlović. The two players were very close but it did feel that the Milan player saw it coming and moved his body towards the ball. Referee Giuseppe Collu gave a corner kick for Lazio which seemed to be the more logical choice. But VAR did not agree and called the ref to have a look. Collu obviously was not convinced and instead of saying so decided to give a freekick to Milan because Adam Marusic was holding Pavlovic’ shirt. In other words, it was penalty but because there was a foul on Pavlović, the burden of the foul was on Lazio. A ridiculous decision since Pavlović was also holding onto the Montenegro International.

In all fairness it was not much of a penalty but we have seen worse in Serie A this season. There was certainly no foul by Marusic. Yet another refereeing controversial episode in Milan, a classic in recent years either against Inter or Milan. The theatrics from Massimiliano Allegri, sent off before the decision was made, put pressure on the ref who was too scared to make the right decision so he went for the two wrongs.

Lazio played well and did not deserve to lose.

Who played for Milan

Maignan, Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Saelemaekers, Fofana (65' Loftus-Cheek), Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi, Leao, Nkunku (82' Ricci)

Substitutes: Terracciano, Pittarella, De Winter, Odogu, Estupinan, Jashari

Manager: Allegri

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini (85’ Nuno Tavares), Guendouzi, Vecino (62’ Dele-Bashiru), Basic (85’ Noslin), Isaksen (70’ Pedro), Dia (62’ Castellanos), Zaccagni

Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Patric, Provstgaard, Lazzari, Belahyane

Manager: Sarri

Referee: Collu

Goal: 52’ Leao

Booked: Fofana (M), Pellegrini (L), Gabbia (M), Romagnoli (L), Ricci (M), Zaccagni L)