Sports
VAR was ‘correct’ to revoke Fiorentina 1-0 Cremonese penalty, insists AIA expert
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Although practically everyone was critical of the decision, the AIA (Italian Referees Association) insist it was correct to revoke the penalty in Fiorentina 1-0 Cremonese.
The incident caused a great deal of controversy, with pundits from DAZN, Sky Sport Italia and more all adamant this represented an over-reach of VAR and well beyond the remit of the ‘clear and obvious error’ for intervention.
Referee Federico La Penna on the pitch had given the penalty for Federico Baschirotto’s foul on Roberto Piccoli, but he changed his mind following the VAR review.
AIA representative Andrea De Marco spoke on DAZN Italia show Open VAR to defend the intervention. “For the commission, this is a very good call from the VAR and AVAR Gariglio, you cannot give a penalty for a situation like this, also looking to the past.
“From the VAR booth, they show referee La Penna that Baschirotto is held on the neck, then he falls down, but this is not a foul, he just collides with Piccoli as a consequence of falling down.”
Most of the pundits watching that footage argued that the two players were tussling with each other in a physical battle, so calling the ‘first’ foul was excessively harsh.
“The two players are trying to take a position and defend the ball, but Piccoli then drags the Cremonese player down. VAR made the right decision,” insisted De Marco.
What of those who say this is over-reach when the referee made the decision on the pitch?
“It is always better to have a VAR On-Field Review too many than one too few.” De Marco and the AIA also defended both controversial calls in Atalanta 1-0 Roma.
Officials back VAR and referee after Fiorentina-Cremonese
