Milan, Italy – March 10, 2026 – A controversial weekend of Serie A action has been dissected by Mauro Tonolini, a representative of the Italian Refereeing Association (AIA), during the latest installment of DAZN’s “Open VAR” program. The focus centered on two key penalty decisions: a contested call in the Milan-Inter derby and a missed opportunity in Genoa-Roma. Tonolini’s analysis, delivered on Tuesday, clarified the reasoning behind the on-field decisions and the subsequent VAR reviews.
The primary point of contention in the Derby della Madonnina revolved around a potential handball by Milan’s Fodé Ballo-Touré Ricci in the closing moments of the match. Tonolini affirmed that referee Fabio Doveri’s decision not to award a penalty to Inter was correct. “The episode was evaluated correctly by Doveri on the field,” Tonolini explained. “Ricci’s arm was in a natural position, and there was even a movement to withdraw the arm. Had the ball not struck his arm, it would have hit his chest.” This assessment aligns with the VAR’s confirmation, negating the need for an on-field review.
Tonolini drew parallels to a similar situation from last season, referencing a handball incident in a match between Napoli and Inter involving Denzel Dumfries. He noted that, like the Ricci incident, the arm position was deemed not to be in an unnatural position, and therefore not a punishable offense. This consistency in application, Tonolini suggested, is crucial for maintaining fairness and clarity in officiating.
Though, the discussion took a different turn when addressing a handball incident in the Genoa-Roma fixture. Tonolini stated that a penalty *should* have been awarded to Roma after Genoa’s Antonin Malinovskyi handled the ball during a scoring opportunity. “For us, What we have is an absolutely punishable handball,” he asserted. “Although there was a deflection, that does not mitigate the offense. Malinovskyi’s left arm was clearly in a position that made contact with the ball, and his right arm was also outside of his natural silhouette.”
The issue, according to Tonolini, stemmed from an initial assessment by on-field referee Fabio Colombo, who deemed the contact too close-range to warrant a penalty. However, VAR official Massimiliano Irrati Mazzoleni, should have intervened. Tonolini explained that the VAR correctly identified two deflections, but failed to recognize that this did not negate the initial handball offense. “The deflection does not absolve the punishability of this intervention,” he emphasized.
The “Open VAR” segment also briefly touched upon officiating errors in the Lecce-Cremonese match, where referee Marco Sozza faced scrutiny for a contested decision involving contact between Cremonese’s Frank Tsadjout Sanabria and Lecce’s Gaby Jean. Tonolini indicated that Sozza’s decision not to award a penalty was upheld by VAR, but acknowledged that the situation was complex, involving multiple points of contact. He also pointed out a questionable foul call that led to the sequence, suggesting Sozza may have had a less-than-stellar performance overall.
These analyses underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Serie A referees and the crucial role of VAR in ensuring accurate decision-making. While the technology aims to minimize errors, interpretations and subjective judgments remain central to the game, often sparking debate and scrutiny. The insights provided by Tonolini and the AIA through “Open VAR” are intended to foster transparency and understanding of the complex decisions made on the pitch.
Looking ahead, Roma will travel to Fiorentina on March 15th, while Genoa will host Udinese on the same day. These matches will undoubtedly be closely watched, not only for the footballing action but also for the officiating, as teams and fans alike seek consistency and fairness in the application of the rules. The next “Open VAR” segment is scheduled for next Tuesday, where further controversial incidents from Serie A will be analyzed.
