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The latest edition of the Derby della Madonnina left the blue half of Milan fuming after a narrow 1-0 defeat to AC Milan.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
While Pervis Estupi\u00f1\u00e1n\u2019s first-half goal secured the bragging rights for the Rossoneri<\/i>, the post-match discourse has been dominated by one man: referee Daniele Doveri.<\/p>\n
Despite holding a seven-point lead at the top of the Serie A table, Cristian Chivu\u2019s Inter camp felt hard done by several high-profile decisions in the closing stages of the match.<\/p>\n
For a game of this magnitude, the fallout regarding officiating is rarely quiet, and Sunday night at San Siro was no exception.<\/p>\n
Rafa Leandro had issued a \u2018win or die\u2019 war cry ahead of the game and his AC Milan teammates certainly responded.<\/p>\n
The most explosive moment occurred in the 95th minute of play.<\/p>\n
With Inter throwing everything forward in search of a late equalizer, the ball struck the arm of Milan midfielder Samuele Ricci after a deflection from Denzel Dumfries.<\/p>\n
The Inter players immediately surrounded Doveri, pleading for a penalty that could have salvaged a point.<\/p>\n
However, after a silent check with the VAR room, the referee waved play away.<\/p>\n
The justification?<\/p>\n
Ricci\u2019s arm was adjudged to be in a \u201cnatural position,\u201d with the player making an instinctive movement to avoid the contact rather than making himself \u201cunnaturally larger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inter head coach Cristian Chivu was stoic in his post-match press conference, stating: \u201cI was told the VAR checked it, so I have nothing to add. I am focused on the performance and my own mistakes.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Despite his calm exterior, the frustration within the squad was palpable, especially as the replay suggested the contact significantly altered the ball\u2019s trajectory.<\/p>\n
Beyond the penalty appeal, Inter\u2019s coaching staff \u2013 led by assistant Aleksandar Kolarov \u2013 expressed disbelief at the amount of stoppage time.<\/p>\n
Despite numerous substitutions, VAR checks, and injury stoppages, Doveri only added six minutes.<\/p>\n
The Nerazzurri bench felt this was insufficient given the stop-start nature of the second half.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, a \u201cghost goal\u201d incident added fuel to the fire. Just moments before the handball shout, Carlos Augusto bundled the ball into the net from a corner.<\/p>\n
However, Doveri had already blown his whistle for scuffling in the box while the ball was still in mid-air.<\/p>\n
By stopping play early, he prevented the VAR from even being able to review the goal, a tactical officiating choice that left the San Siro crowd incensed.<\/p>\n