During last night’s Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Lecce, referee Fabio Maresca faced heavy scrutiny for his controversial decisions.
As reported by Italian media outlet L’Interista, the 44-year-old official incorrectly penalized Inter’s star player, Marcus Thuram, in the first half.
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In the opening 45 minutes, Inter had two appeals for penalties turned down.
The first incident involved Marcus Thuram going to ground following a challenge from Santiago Pierotti.
However, Fabio Maresca opted to keep the game flowing and issued a yellow card to the Frenchman for apparent simulation.
Criticism Directed at Fabio Maresca for Booking Marcus Thuram During Inter Milan’s 1-0 Victory Over Lecce
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 09: Referee Fabio Maresca overseeing the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 9, 2021, amidst strict pandemic restrictions that limit fan attendance. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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While the contact between Thuram and Pierotti was minimal, leading many to argue it wasn’t sufficient for a penalty, critics maintained that the decision to issue a yellow card was unwarranted.
Despite Thuram’s light fall, many deemed it insufficient for a booking. Following this incident, Maresca awarded Inter a penalty when Danilo Veiga was deemed to have tripped Ange-Yoan Bonny in the box, but he later reversed his decision after reviewing the play on the pitch-side monitor.