Ex Serie A Referee Blasts Davide Massa After Como 3-4 Inter Milan Controversy: “Poor Performance”

Ex Serie A Referee Blasts Davide Massa After Como 3-4 Inter Milan Controversy: “Poor Performance”

Giampaolo Calvarese slammed referee Davide Massa after Sunday’s Serie A showdown between Como and Inter Milan.

Analyzing Massa’s performance in his latest Tuttosport column, Calvarese commented on the 44-year-old’s decision to award a controversial penalty to Como, as reported by FCInter1908.

Inter Milan hauled back a two-goal deficit to beat the Lariani 4-3 in a nail-biting contest at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

Despite Lautaro Martinez’s absence, Cristian Chivu’ side found a way to respond to Como’s quick-fire double toward the end of the first half.

Indeed, Marcus Thuram launched Inter’s comeback with goals on either side of halftime, drawing the visitors level before the 50-minute mark.

Then, Denzel Dumfries netted a second-half double to put the Nerazzurri 4-2 up before Lucas Da Cunha pulled one back for Como in the 89th minute.

Da Cunha converted a controversial penalty, with Massa pointing to the spot after Ange-Yoan Bonny’s reckless tackle on Nico Paz.

However, the 44-year-old’s decision was dubious, to say the least.

Giampaolo Calvarese Slams Davide Massa After Como 3-4 Inter Milan Controversy

Paz had already unleashed a shot well wide of Yann Sommer’s goal before Bonny brought him to the ground. Meanwhile, Massa pointed to the spot straight away.

Despite receiving a call from VAR to review the incident, Massa refused to change his mind.

“An indication of a very low disciplinary threshold for a referee of his experience,” Calvarese said. “The handball by Bastoni on Douvikas’ shot is not punishable due to the referee’s natural positioning.

“However, the issue lies with the penalty awarded to Como.

“There is nothing foul about the Nico Paz–Bonny contact,” the former Serie A referee explained. “Nico Paz, while shooting, ends up hitting Bonny, who is attempting to block the shot.

“What occurs is simply a game contact, not a penalty foul. Therefore, the decision to award the penalty was wrong.”