Overview

• Referee Antonio Rapuano, after a VAR review, penalized Joao Mario for handball, and Gift Orban converted to level the match 1-1 at the Bentegodi.
• Orban elbowed Federico Gatti and received only a yellow card, a decision former referee Luca Marelli said should have been a straight red.
• Italian newspapers broadly agreed the elbow warranted dismissal, while opinions differed on whether the handball penalty was the correct call.
• Football Italia reports AIA found Rapuano’s performance unconvincing, with Italian coverage indicating a likely drop to Serie B assignments in the near term.
• Tudor also criticized Lega Serie A’s scheduling, citing fewer rest days for Juventus than Napoli, and no official disciplinary or league response to the incidents was reported.