Sacchi’s performance at the Stadium in the Serie A match analyzed by X-ray by Luca Marelli, the whistler from the Marches drew seven cards
The past season for Juan Luca Sacchi, Rocchi’s choice for Juventus-Lazio, was a season full of satisfactions, from De Rossi’s debut on the Roma bench to Inter-Lazio. The referee from Macerata, 40 years old in October, has refereed 16 matches in Serie A, 4 in B and two in the Italian Cup (Lazio-Genoa in the round of 16 and Juve-Frosinone in the quarter-finals). In his career he has 57 appearances in the Italian top flight and an average of 3.9 yellow cards awarded per match. Over 250 official appearances in all competitions. In season he made a poor debut in Parma-Milan and then improved in Atalanta-Fiorentina and disappointed again in Udinese-Inter but how did the referee from the Marche fare at the Stadium?
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Sacchi’s history with Juventus and Lazio
There were five precedents between Lazio and the Macerata whistle that saw a balance clearly positive for the Biancocelesti: four wins and one draw. There were also five meetings with the Bianconeri (3 wins, 1 draw and 1 knockout).
The referee cautioned six players and sent off one
Assisted by assistants Bindoni and Tegoni with IV man Tremolada, Di Paolo al Var and Guide to the Avarthe referee cautioned six players and sent off one. Booked: Locatelli (J), Savona (J), Fagioli (J), Douglas Luiz (J), Vecino (L), Pedro (L). Expelled: Romagnoli (L)
Juventus-Lazio, the slow-motion cases
These are the main dubious episodes. In the 17th minute Rovella ends up on the ground after a harsh intervention by Thuram. The referee gives the free kick, not the yellow card. In the 18th minute things heated up after Kalulu’s tackle on Isaksen, who was receiving the ball. Still no warning. In the 22nd minute Romagnoli intervenes on Kalulu outside the area. The referee lets it continue, then is called back to the on field review by the VAR and sends off the Lazio defender. At 45′ Isaksen ends up on the ground after Locatelli’s intervention, here too the referee does not issue the yellow card. In the 46th minute the first yellow card was booked: Locatelli, who elbowed Castellanos in the face.
In the 50th minute a yellow card for Savona, who irregularly stops Nuno Tavares’ progression. In the 60th minute Fagioli holds Zaccagni and a yellow card also goes to the newly-submitted Juventus player. In the 83rd minute Douglas Luiz punched Patric in the back: the Spaniard fell to the ground. Neither the on-field referee nor VAR intervenes. The same Brazilian midfielder, a few minutes later, comes in very hard on Rovella with a hammer foot. No on field review in this case either.
Only in the 90th minute was Douglas Luiz booked for a penalty pesto in Castrovilli. In the 94th minute Vecino received a yellow card for a mid-field foul on Fagioli. In the 95th minute Pedro was booked for a foul on Cabal from behind. After 5′ of injury time Juventus-Lazio ends 1-0.
For Marelli the VAR had to intervene
Dazn expert Luca Marelli clarifies this by starting from the red to Romagnoli: «The contact is outside the penalty area. For the expulsion then everything depends on whether he touched the ball or not.” He then focuses on Douglas Luiz’s failure to send off and says: “Douglas Luiz’s shot is a far ball, Sacchi sees absolutely nothing. This is not a particularly violent blow, but it is gratuitous and has nothing to do with the game of football. A VAR intervention would have been better for a red card for the midfielder. In the VAR room they did not warn Sacchi because it was an unsportsmanlike behavior which only requires a yellow card and VAR cannot warn the referee in this case. This is why Douglas Luiz wasn’t even booked, because Sacchi didn’t see the shot.”
On the foul on Rovella he then explains: “Sacchi conceded the advantage and then booked Douglas Luiz. AND correct yellow and not red because the Brazilian’s foot slips on Rovella’s leg, it is not a sharp blow on the ankle. But it would have been a double yellow for the Juventus midfielder.”
