In the SerieB match between Parma and Udinese the match commissioner, Massimo Massa, was at the center of a heated debate for his decisions in a match that turned into a real "disaster" for the fans and the media. The match, which ended with Parma's victory, was marked by numerous controversies: missed penalties, a red card not called and the absence of interventions by VAR, which could have clarified many of the most critical situations.
The context was that of a very balanced challenge. Parma, looking for points to consolidate their position in the standings, faced Udinese, who in turn were trying to avoid relegation. Tension rose when, at a crucial moment, player Abankwah had contact with Udinese's Romero in the penalty area. Despite the presence of VAR, the commissioner blew neither a penalty nor a red card, leaving the players and fans in a state of frustration.
Another controversial episode was Troilo's tackle on Davis. The Juventus player received injury time, but Troilo hugged him and crashed into him, a gesture that led to a penalty for Parma. The referee did not intervene, and the VAR did not make any corrections. Furthermore, a possible yellow card for Kabasele, who stopped Romero, was overlooked, as was the penalty called for Abankwah's arm outside the line of play. Zaniolo's blow to Lontani, who continued to hold him back, should have been a red card for violent conduct, but once again the referee took no action.
The match commissioner, Massimo Massa, has come under criticism for his inability to blow the whistle in the most obvious situations. VAR, under the direction of Mazzoleni, failed to intervene to correct the errors, despite the use of technologies such as Instant Replay, which are already widely adopted in other sports, such as basketball. The lack of intervention has fueled the perception that refereeing has not lived up to expectations.
Regarding the performance evaluation, the score awarded to the VAR was 4.5, while the referee received a rating of 4. The final judgment was that, despite the aggravating video, the referee system showed significant shortcomings. Fans and pundits have called for a more rigorous review of refereeing decisions and a more active use of VAR to ensure the fairness of the game.
The future of Parma and Udinese will depend on how the arbitrary authorities respond to these criticisms. While Parma will be able to count on a victory that could improve their position, Udinese will have to face the consequences of a match in which refereeing decisions had a significant impact on the final result. The next match of both teams will certainly be carefully observed, both for its sporting value and for the quality of the refereeing decisions.