Fabio Capello Gives Brutal Verdict On ‘Scandalous’ Liverpool Penalty V Inter Milan

Fabio Capello has criticised the controversial decision to award Liverpool a late penalty against Inter Milan.

VAR Criticised By Fabio Capello

Inter were condemned to a dramatic, late defeat at the San Siro in the Champions League last night after Alessandro Bastoni was adjudged to have pulled Florian Wirtz’s shirt inside the penalty area.

Wirtz went down under the contact and referee Felix Zwayer pointed to the spot after a lengthy VAR check. Dominik Szoboszlai then stepped up to coolly score in the 88th minute, securing the visitors, who had dropped Mohamed Salah, all three points.

Capello, however, described the incident as “scandalous” and hit out at the use of video technology.

The former AC Milan and England head coach told Sky Sport: “It is a scandalous penalty. I don’t understand why the VAR had to intervene when the referee saw it all, the obvious simulation of throwing himself to the ground.

“They called the referee for a shirt tug that means we’d have a million penalties per game. They set a precedent and it is shameful.”

While Inter did benefit from another VAR intervention earlier in the match, after Ibrahima Konate’s goal was ruled out for handball in the first half, Capello was critical of the standard of officiating throughout the match.

“I don’t understand VAR tonight at all,” he added. “It took three minutes to disallow a clear handball goal.”

The result meant Inter dropped down to fifth in the standings, a point behind Serie A rivals Atalanta after they beat Chelsea 2-1.

Inter Milan Rage Over Penalty Call

Despite the chastening manner of his side’s defeat, Inter boss Cristian Chivu was reluctant to blame the officials.

“I rarely comment on refereeing decisions,” he told Sky Sport Italia post-match. “I talk about education and what we ought to be teaching people, especially in the Champions League.

“The referee was in an excellent position to view the whole incident, and he decided it did not warrant a penalty.

“When VAR intervenes, it has to understand the dynamics of the game. We must accept the decisions and learn to combat against injustice, be more wary of these things, and try to focus on the good things that we can do.”

But Inter forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan did not hold back in his own damning assessment of the refereeing, declaring: “I don’t know how they came up with a penalty that never existed, but this is football.

“We are not happy. If you give a penalty like this, then every contact in the box is a penalty.”

What’s next for Inter Milan?

Inter return to league action against Genoa this weekend before facing Bologna in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals on December 19.

They will not resume their Champions League campaign until January 20, when they host high-flying Arsenal.