Juventus Fume Over Ref's Clanger in Derby Thriller: Kalulu's Red Card Nightmare!
Juventus exploded in rage after Pierre Kalulu's controversial second yellow card red in their 3-2 Derby d'Italia loss to Inter Milan, with directors Chiellini and Comolli confronting the referee. The decision, later admitted as wrong, led to suspensions and fines, while Inter pulled eight points clear atop Serie A. Juve now face a tough Champions League fight, 15 points back.
Alright, lads, grab a pint because the Derby d'Italia just served up more drama than a soap opera finale. Juventus got absolutely rinsed 3-2 by Inter Milan at the San Siro, but the real villain of the piece wasn't on the pitch – it was ref Federico La Penna and his dodgy yellow card that turned the game on its head.
Picture this: it's late in the first half, scores level after Andrea Cambiaso atoned for his earlier own goal. Juve defender Pierre Kalulu tussles with Inter's Alessandro Bastoni, who goes down like he's been shot by a sniper. La Penna whips out a second yellow, turning it red, and Kalulu's jaw hits the turf in disbelief. He even points to the VAR screen, begging for a check, but here's the kicker – yellows leading to reds are off-limits for video review. Brutal.
Cut to halftime in the tunnel, where Juve's bigwigs Giorgio Chiellini (yes, the legend himself, now director of football strategy) and CEO Damien Comolli lose their rag, giving La Penna an earful. Chiellini later fumed that it was 'unacceptable' and called for urgent changes in Italian football, saying they've been banging on about the league's shoddy setup all year. Comolli piled on, labelling it 'embarrassing' and a global eyesore, insisting Italian football lost more than just three points.
On the pitch, 10-man Juve put up a proper scrap. Inter nicked ahead in the 76th through Pio Esposito's bullet header from Federico Dimarco's cross. Manuel Locatelli levelled it brilliantly from a Weston McKennie nod-down in the 83rd, hearts fluttering for a point. But no – Piotr Zielinski smashes one in the 90th, and Inter snatch it. Ouch.
The fallout? Massive. Inter, as reported by ESPN News Services and Football Italia, stretch their Serie A lead to eight points over Milan and Napoli (though with a game in hand). Juve slump to fourth, 15 points adrift, staring down a Champions League scrap.
But the real fireworks are off-field. Ref designator Gianluca Rocchi confirmed La Penna's call was bang out of order – he's sidelined for at least a month. Comolli cops a ban and fine for his tunnel tantrum, as noted in the match report. Bastoni? Dodges retrospective punishment because it was a second yellow, not a straight red. Inter prez Beppe Marotta shrugged it off, reminding everyone of past non-protests like their Scudetto slip and a dodgy Napoli pen.
Juventus are circling wagons, united against 'injustice' for the fans. Chiellini's rallying cry? 'We won't give up.' It's classic Italian football – passion, paranoia, and referees copping the blame. Inter fans are lapping it up, unbeaten in recent derbies against the Old Lady despite pre-match nerves.
This one's got legs, mates. With VAR quirks, director meltdowns, and title stakes, it's primed for endless pub debates. Italian footy's never dull, is it? Just don't mention yellow cards around Turin.