MASSIMO CHIESA, an Italian official who spent four years refereeing in the Serie A between 1990 and 1994, has had his say on the referee’s performance in Lazio’s 1-0 defeat to Juventus on Saturday night. There was a moment in the second half where Medhi Benatia went in for a questionably high challenge on Lucas Leiva. The referee chose not to give a penalty to Lazio and the VAR was not even consulted.

Chiesa, speaking to Calciomercato, mentioned the “intervention” in the second half, and “Benatia’s high and disordered leg on Lucas Leiva in the Juventus penalty area”, stating “here, a penalty is missing“. Chiesa adds that “the VAR does not intervene because of the absence of the ‘clear error’ assumptions.” Chiesa concluded that “Benatia’s foul went unpunished.”

Chiesa had more to add about the match: “at the start of the match, Dybala is backed into in the area by Lucas Leiva: fall accentuated by the Argentine.” The former referee also added that “the cancellation of Lukaku’s own goal” was “correct“.