03-16-2026, 03:20 PM
(03-15-2026, 11:26 PM)xudong Wrote: I have a genuine question about Athekame's disallowed goal. It seems that Lazio's defender got their hand on the ball first, then our hands. What should be the right call?
I seem to recall reading somewhere that, the handball was unintentional by a defender, then a PK may not be called; but if it is by an attacking player, then the goal wouldn't have stood. However, last season when we played Bologna in the league, Castro scored off a clear handball off another Bologna player. I remember they said that it was not a handball by Castro so it is okay. We also had that crazy 1:2 Atletico game when we completely got screwed by a lunatic referee. I guess the only rule is screw Milan.
From the slo-mo, it looks quite clear to me that Lazio defender's hand touched the ball first. Obviously it was unintentional, and because the box was so crowded it was also hard to claim if the hand was in a natural position, but I am totally fine that Lazio wouldn't get a penalty called on that. Also, is it clear that Athekame's hand touched the ball? Because according to what happened between Bologna and us last season, if it was an unintentional handball by another Milan player, then the goal should've stood.
I don't like this referee by the way, though it wasn't his fault we lost. I feel that almost all 50/50 decision went to Lazio but that's probably not a great sin. He also blocked Modric but there was no guarantee that Modric would score from there, and his positioning was just unlucky. But I don't understand why the assistant referee had to raise his flag (and why Guida had to stop the game--is the head referee obligated to stop the game when assistant referee raises the flag?? I am not sure what's the rule). That wasn't offside at all, and we were truly about to score from that opportunity. VAR can't intervene in that situation either.
Also, (iirc) funny how until last week, Inter was the only team that didn't receive any red card, and Milan didn't see any red card on their opponent all season. All of a sudden, Inter got one (Chivu) and Lazio too (Sarri), but neither is a player.
Rabiot... How come we are so dependent on one player??
I was wondering the same things. I think the right call on the Athekame call was to let it go and let VAR review it. The referee being SO quick to blow the whistle was insane to me. If he saw the Athekame handball, then he surely must have seen the Lazio player's handball too, no? You can't decide intentionally or not in that situation right off the bat. You let play go on, and that would be an ideal.situation for which you get VAR's help on.
There was also, for me, a clear penalty on Athekame when he was shooting the ball. Lazio player came in studs forward to block the ball and Athekame during the motion of shooting hit the bottom of the Laizo player's foot. Let me be clear, do I think these should be penalties? No! But I don't set eh standards. If I did, 80% of the calls we see won't be fouls. So with that said, the referees set the standard of what's a foul. And challenges like the one on Athekame are ALWAYS, 100% OF THE TIME, called anywhere else on teh field. And more often than not, there is a yellow card given for dangerous/reckless play when you go in studs up like that to block a shot/get to the ball first. VAR reviewed that play btw...so I'd love to know why they didn't recommend for the referee to go and review the replay. VAR shpuld make the call...they should jist tell the referee, "hey, you might wanna take a look at this one again and make sure you are good with what you initially called/didn't call".
And you are right, we played horeibly in the 1st half and didn't do enough in the 2nd. But I'd argue that the referee DID influence the result. For me, moreso on the Athekame shot.
And then, yes....that same assistant shot the flag up for an offside twice, when replays showed it would be within centimeters (and for sure in at least 1 of those, Fullkrug was clearly onside...and Modric played to Puliaic who was clear on goal from.our left side). Then, I inexplicably, he kept his flag down when the whole stadium could see Nkunku was offside by 3 meters. I can't figure this shit out. Either these referees are true dumbasses with zero IQ...or they are corrupt. I don't know....
