Fabregas fury after ‘clear’ penalty against Juventus making him ‘doubt’ VAR | OneFootball

Cesc Fabregas vented his fury after a controversial 2-1 defeat to Juventus, where his men were denied a penalty. ‘When VAR evaluates that and says nothing, I have doubts in my mind. Inconsistency is making VAR bad for football.’

It was a third consecutive defeat for the Lariani, but once again a performance that deserved considerably more than to end up empty-handed.

Randal Kolo Muani had opened the scoring against the run of play with a solo run and strike into the roof of the net, cancelled out by the Assane Diao free header on the stroke of half-time.

“I am satisfied with the performance, we had 60 very strong minutes and did not deserve to lose the game,” Fabregas told Sky Sport Italia.

“There were improvements from the matches against Milan and Atalanta, as we were able to control the situation, but there are some things you cannot battle against and that makes it difficult.

“I am referring to the penalty incident, rather than wait for you to ask me.”

Fabregas rages at refereeing incidents against Como

Federico Gatti Juventus Como penalty

There were strong penalty appeals evaluated and rejected by VAR for a Federico Gatti handling offence and moments later Jean Butez clumsily punched Gatti in the head when mistiming his run, sent the wrong way by Kolo Muani’s spot-kick.

When Fabregas was shown the replay with Gatti’s fingertips pushing the ball off the chest of Tasos Douvikas, he lost his usual cool demeanour.

“There is no other interpretation, it is a very clear penalty. Douvikas is controlling that with his chest and without the touch from the hand, he is going clear on goal, an incredible opportunity to win the game.

“Now you go home with zero points, you end up feeling stupid, but today I cannot stay silent. It happened in January against Lazio with Gigot’s very strong tackle on Nico Paz – not saying it’s a red, but certainly a yellow verging on orange – not even a free kick and we lost the player for three matches to injury.

“A very clear foul in midfield against Milan, nothing given, Milan get a corner and score to win. Como-Udinese, Goldaniga does not touch the player and gets a second yellow to be sent off. Against Roma there was Pellegrini who should’ve had a second yellow card, nothing given,” listed Fabregas.

“So today I say enough, because I have to defend Como. I am not talking for myself, I am defending the club and this city. I know it is a small place, there aren’t many of us, but I have to stand up for Como.

“I understand the referee does not see this incident with Gatti, but when the VAR evaluates that footage and doesn’t say anything, that is where I have doubts in my mind.”

Does Fabregas want to explain what he means by doubts?

“I could not be clearer. It’s doubts about how they evaluate situations for one club or another.”

Handball is increasingly difficult to evaluate, but the Gatti incident really should’ve been considered a clear and obvious error by VAR, especially because the referee could not possibly have seen it.

“What is the difference between this penalty and the one given for Venezia at the 92nd minute? Either they always give the penalty or they don’t. All we ask for is justice,” continued an angry Fabregas.

“I have been here for two and a half years, I am not attacking Italian football, but football in general. A mistake can happen, but in football we need to decide either is it a penalty or isn’t it? Because this inconsistency is making VAR bad for football. I believe in VAR when it is used correctly.”

Como were already dealing with a huge injury crisis and it got even worse because Ignace van der Brempt made his comeback and five minutes later limped off again.

Bad luck was also evident when Alberto Dossena’s header thumped the crossbar in stoppages, but Como do have a tendency to concede late goals this season.