Italian Journalist Giancarlo Padovan: “Inter Captain Samir Handanovic Should Have Been Sent Off Against Sassuolo” | OneFootball

Italian journalist Giancarlo Padovan believes that Inter captain Samir Handanovic was lucky to stay on the pitch during the Nerazzurri’s 2-1 win over Sassuolo earlier in the campaign.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, the journalist gave the view that the Slovenian should have been sent off for his challenge on Neroverdi forward Gergoire Defrel during the first half of the match.

Inter were already 1-0 down in the first half in Emila-Romagna when things threatened to get worse, as Defrel was clear on goal through the centre in the closing moments of the first half.

Handanovic came out to try and stop the Frenchman, and in the process collided with Defrel.

The referee saw the incident but Handanovic avoided a straight red card as it was deemed not to have been a foul, with VAR also not intervening.

However, Padovan believes that this was the wrong decision, and that it is something of a “what if” for Sassuolo.

“A sword of Damocles hangs over the referee Pairetto in [Sassuolo’s] match against Inter,” he stated, “it was 1-0 for the Neroverdi, Handanovic comes out and his reckless challenge knocked down Defrel.”

He went on that “It had to be a foul and a sending off, it was the end of the first half and Sassuolo already had a one-goal advantage and would have also had a man advantage, rightfully.”