BREAKING NEWS – The referee of the crucial match between Inter and Lazio has been officially sanctioned with a very severe penalty by Lega Serie A, unleashing a wave of furious reactions among fans, media and even Inter coach Simone Inzaghi himself. The Nerazzurri coach, usually measured in his post-match comments, let all his frustration explode in front of the microphones: “This was a real robbery! They took away precious points from us in the race for the Scudetto.”
The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, was marked by highly controversial refereeing incidents, which left a bitter taste in the mouths of all Inter fans. The penalty not awarded in the 78th minute, an obvious foul in midfield that was not penalized that led to Lazio’s second goal, and a management of cards that was defined as “one-sided” infuriated the public and players. Protests multiplied online immediately after the final whistle, with the hashtag #ScandaloSerieA becoming a trending topic in Italy within a few minutes.
According to sources within the League, the decision to suspend the referee responsible for at least three rounds – with possible exclusion from the designations for the rest of the season – came after an in-depth analysis of the match by the Refereeing Committee. It is not the first time that this referee has been accused of controversial performances, but this time the importance of the stakes has made the story explosive. Inter, in the thick of the fight for the Scudetto against Conte’s Napoli, cannot afford to lose points due to refereeing errors.
Inzaghi didn’t mince his words : “It’s unacceptable, in a championship like Serie A, that a match like this is affected in this way. The boys gave it their all, but it’s impossible to play against certain decisions. We deserve respect.”
His words were echoed by some of the Nerazzurri’s locker room senators, including Lautaro Martinez, who said: “It’s not the first time something like this has happened. We want to win on the pitch, but we can’t fight against the referee too.” Another team leader, Nicolò Barella, posted an enigmatic story on Instagram with the caption: “Justice where are you?” , further fueling the controversy.
Meanwhile, Nerazzurri fans have organized themselves to demonstrate their displeasure, announcing a symbolic protest during the last home game of the season. Some ultras groups have issued harsh statements against the League and against what they call “a system that favors certain teams,” clearly referring to Napoli, a direct competitor for the title.
Some commentators and sports journalists have also expressed criticism. The well-known commentator Fabio Caressa declared live on TV: “If there is a referee who makes a mistake in such a delicate match, it is right that he is stopped. But this does not erase the damage done to Inter. The fight for the Scudetto risks being distorted.” Other analysts have called for a broader review of the VAR system, which on this occasion did not intervene effectively to correct the wrong decisions.
On the other side, Lazio are trying to tone things down. Coach Maurizio Sarri avoided controversy, limiting himself to saying: “We played our game. I don’t comment on the refereeing incidents.” However, even among the Biancocelesti fans there is an awareness that the match was conditioned by multiple ambiguous incidents.
Serie A now enters its final act, with Inter and Napoli separated by just one point. Tensions are sky-high and every detail can make a difference. In this climate, the referee’s disqualification represents an important precedent, but it certainly does not calm the anger of a fan base that feels robbed of its dream.
The League has ensured greater attention for the last matches, with more rigorous referee designations and transparency in decisions. However, the damage is already done, and the 2024-2025 championship risks going down in history not only for the spectacular nature of the fight at the top, but also for the refereeing controversies that accompanied it until the last minute.
