Referee stopping Monza move against Inter made ‘serious mistake’, says pundit | OneFootball

DAZN referee pundit Luca Marelli believes Luca Pairetto made ‘a serious mistake’ by stopping Monza’s attacking move rather than playing the advantage in stoppages against Inter.

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter were held to a 1-1 draw by Monza at the U-Power Stadium on Sunday, but the home side were furious in stoppages when referee Pairetto gave them a free kick rather than play the advantage.

Italy international Matteo Pessina thought he had won the ball in an excellent position at the edge of the box after two challenges from Benjamin Pavard and Piotr Zielinski. However, the official blew his whistle before Pessina could even touch the ball, giving Monza a free kick instead.

Referee stopping Monza move against Inter made ‘serious mistake’, says pundit

“It’s a shame for a serious mistake at minute 94,” DAZN referee pundit Marelli said on Sunday night.

“There was a clear Pavard foul on Dani Mota. At first, he seemed to play the advantage, but when there was a second challenge between Zielinski and Bondo, he decided to stop the play because he probably hadn’t realised that the ball was going towards Pessina, who would have been alone in front of the Inter goalkeeper, practically without opponents.

“It’s a shame because the performance was very positive, but this mistake ruined it because you don’t expect to be so hasty from a referee, especially of Pairetto’s experience.”

Inter have eight points in four Serie A matches after two victories and two draws.

The defending Serie A champions are just one point behind table leaders Napoli and visit Manchester City in their 2024-25 Champions League debut on Wednesday before meeting Milan in the derby della Madonnina on September 22.