Pierre Kalulu has been handed a one-match suspension following his red card in the fiercely contested Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus at San Siro, and will consequently miss the upcoming league fixture against Como on Saturday at 15:00.
The ban was expected, as regulations stipulate an automatic one-game suspension in the event of a sending-off for two yellow cards. However, the wording of the sporting judge’s official explanation has sparked debate. In the report, Kalulu’s dismissal is described as the result of a “second yellow card for unsporting behaviour towards an opponent,” a formula that does not distinguish between the nature of the two incidents that led to his expulsion.
The French defender received both bookings in the first half of Inter–Juventus. The first foul, on Nicolò Barella, was widely considered harsh, while the second yellow came after a minimal contact incident with Alessandro Bastoni, which many observers felt had been effectively invented, with replays suggesting there was little to no real foul committed.
As a result, Kalulu not only left Juventus down to ten men for over a half at San Siro, but will also be unavailable for the crucial home match against Como. His absence is even more significant given the injury to Emil Holm, who was expected to provide cover on the right flank but is now sidelined and set to miss several matches.
