the referee’s oversight that was ruining the party and the final maxiris

He is considered the best referee of the Next Gen and for Rocchi he is a real talent: it is no coincidence that Colombo from Como was chosen for many big matches such as the Milan-Inter derby but was just coming off a two-match stoppage after Lazio- Juve, when he ignored a clear penalty for the Biancocelesti. With this choice, Colombo becomes the second youngest referee ever to be appointed for the derby of Milan at 33 years, 6 months and 17 days. In front of him only Gianluca Paparesta, 33 years 5 months and 29 days, immediately behind Collina, 34 years and seven months. If we were to go back to the beginning, Goodley from Turin, for example, was 31 years old (1909), Recalcati from Milan 32 (1910). Let’s see how the Como child prodigy fared last night at San Siro in his thirtieth match in Serie A.

Click here for the highlights of Milan-Inter

Colombo’s history with Milan and Inter

Colombo had once managed Milan (against Monza, in a 4-2 defeat) and it was a controversial refereeing. There were two controversies in that case: the first concerning a penalty not awarded to the Rossoneri for a foul by Carboni on Theo Hernandez (Graziano Cesari even defined it as “a double foul, high and low contact”) and the second on the expulsion of Luka Jovic after a reaction against Armando Izzo. Three previous matches against Inter: victories against Atalanta (amid protests from the Orobic team due to a goal disallowed by De Ketelaere), Monza and Bologna.

The referee cautioned five players and sent off three

Assisted by assistants Meli and Alassio with IV Officer Massa, to VAR Marini and AVAR Mariani, the referee warned five players, including three from Pioli’s team, and the coach Inzaghi and sent off one on each side: 22′ Barella (I), 32′ Lautaro (I), 36′ Theo Hernandez (M) , 88′ Inzaghi (Inter coach), 89′ Gabbia (M), 92′ Tomori (M). Theo (M) and Dumfries (I) sent off in the 93rd minute

Milan-Inter, the slow-motion cases

These are the dubious episodes. In the 8th minute, the first mini-brawl on the pitch after a foul by Theo with Barella with initial sparks between Adli and Mkhitaryan causing a group: Colombo slips away, calms things down and calls the two players back harshly without warning anyone. First yellow card in the 22nd minute for Barella: rough intervention on Theo thrown into the open field. In the 32nd minute, Lautaro also received a yellow card for tackling Tomori with a high leg. Theo Hernandez was also booked in the 36th minute for an irregular tackle on Barella outside the area. In the 40th minute, great response from Sommer on Calabria’s shot, on the rebound Calabria himself falls in the area and asks for a penalty but Colombo allows it to continue. At 45′ strong Inter protests for a foul on Dimarco by Tomori, with a continued action which led Leao to come close to scoring the equaliser.

After all, the second half of Milan-Inter was quiet until Tomori’s goal which was legal as the VAR check confirmed. Hot final. Sparks between Thuram and Maignan in the final but Colombo immediately divides them. In the 88th minute Inzaghi also received a yellow card as he protested loudly and asked for a substitution. Another yellow card, a fair one, in the 89th minute for Gabbia after a foul on Lautaro. Last yellow for Tomori before a final maxirissa that involves everyone. Colombo waves the red card for Theo and Dumfries. Before the final whistle another brawl in front of goal with Calabria punching Frattesi and also sending off the Rossoneri defender. It ends 2-1 for Inter and is the Scudetto.

For Marelli Colombo made a mistake

Luca Marelli clarifies this. The Dazn expert says. “There was no penalty on Calabria in the first half, it was just positional coverage. However, there was a foul on Dimarco with a yellow card from Tomori before the break. Referee’s error”.

Cesari promotes Colombo

On Italia1, during Pressing, Graziano Cesari’s analysis arrives: “You can referee very well and be understanding, he also used common sense but when the players lose their temper you have to chase out the reds, it happened in the last 5 minutes. You see the images of the final brawl, with Maignan also leaving the door, it’s impossible to restore calm, it’s clear that the referee’s decisions are coming which will hit Maignan and Dumfries. In extra-time another red card in the same situation, Colombo has to run to calm the situation. There is a disordered reaction, a punch with his right hand to Frattesi’s face, red is inevitable in Calabria. The beautiful derby was ruined by these situations, Colombo was very good, the designation had not been well received due to previous experiences with Milan as a youth team, but instead he did very well and is only 33 years old, he is destined for a great career.”