Speaking to DAZN, former referee Luca Marelli analyzed the controversial moments from Juve’s 3-2 loss to Inter, focusing on the disciplinary decisions involving Pierre Kalulu and Alessandro Bastoni.
According to Marelli, the first yellow card shown to Kalulu was fair. “The contact wasn’t particularly strong,” he noted, “but it was still a dangerous challenge.” However, he identified significant issues with the second booking. “Referee La Penna was likely deceived by the angle of his view and acted on instinct,” Marelli explained. “In reality, there was no actual foul.”
Marelli went on to emphasize that Bastoni’s action constituted simulation — commonly known as diving — a behaviour that applies to any area of the pitch. He then reflected on how the situation might have unfolded under the proposed new VAR protocol. “With the hypothetical rule change, the VAR would be allowed to intervene on incidents involving a second yellow card,” he said. “The referee could have reviewed the play and re-evaluated Bastoni’s behavior.”
In such a case, Marelli concluded, La Penna would likely have rescinded Kalulu’s second yellow card and instead booked Bastoni for simulation — resulting in Bastoni’s expulsion from the match.
