The aftermath of Inter–Juventus shows no sign of fading, with Juventus still furious over the controversial sending-off of Pierre Kalulu at San Siro. The defender’s red card, given for an alleged foul on Alessandro Bastoni that many consider non-existent, has intensified the club’s frustration over what it views as a pattern of refereeing mistakes in recent weeks.
On Sunday 15 February, John Elkann, CEO of Exor and de facto head of the Juventus ownership group, intervened personally. La Gazzetta dello Sport report how he held a phone conversation with FIGC president Gabriele Gravina to voice his strong disappointment at the incidents that occurred on Saturday night and, more broadly, at what the club regards as a series of serious officiating errors damaging Juventus.
Five Incidents Under Dispute
According to reports, Juventus have identified five key refereeing decisions they consider glaring mistakes, with the Kalulu red card against Inter at the centre of their complaints.
The list includes:
– A penalty awarded against Juventus in Verona–Juve, where the ball unexpectedly deflected onto Joao Mario’s arm, which was close to his body. The referee initially allowed play to continue, but after a VAR review, he awarded the penalty that enabled Verona to equalise.
– The failure to send off Orban in the same match at Verona, after an elbow on Gatti that was only punished with a yellow card.
– A missed penalty in Lazio–Juve, where an evident stamp on Conceição’s foot by Gila went unpunished by both the referee and VAR.
– The penalty later revoked in Fiorentina–Juve, when Vlahovic was held and brought down in the box by Pablo Marì. A penalty was initially awarded to Juventus, only to be mysteriously overturned following a VAR review and transformed into a foul in attack by the striker.
– Another missed penalty in Juve–Lazio, with Gila again involved after a challenge in which he caught Cabal without touching the ball, yet no intervention came from the referee or the VAR room.
In this context, Kalulu’s dismissal at San Siro is seen in Turin not as an isolated episode, but as the latest in a sequence of decisions that the club believes have penalised them heavily.
What Elkann Asked of Gravina
The central point of Elkann’s call to Gravina was not simply to protest, but to request concrete action. He is reported to have urged the FIGC president to adopt all necessary measures to reduce the likelihood of such blatant refereeing errors in future.
The Juventus ownership’s stance is that safeguarding the integrity and credibility of Italian football must be the priority. For Elkann, restoring trust in officiating is essential not only for Juventus, but for the entire system.
Rocchi’s Future and the Push for Professional Referees
The debate over refereeing has also reopened discussion about the structure and leadership of the Italian officials’ sector. It now appears increasingly likely that Gianluca Rocchi’s tenure as refereeing chief will end at the close of the current season, with his mandate nearing expiry after a particularly turbulent campaign for the officials.
Daniele Orsato is considered the leading candidate to take over the role. The highly respected referee, admired by many clubs including Juventus, is seen as a strong figure capable of guiding a new phase for the Italian refereeing body.
At the same time, the idea of fully professional referees is gaining momentum. Luciano Spalletti has already spoken publicly about the need to move towards professionalism for match officials, and Serie A clubs are largely aligned with this vision. The model under consideration is similar to that of the Premier League, where referees have been managed for more than twenty years by a dedicated, specialised organisation.
