Referees admitted a clear penalty was missed in Juventus' 3-0 win over Napoli after Gleison Bremer pulled down Rasmus Hojlund. Betting note: with authorities pushing to penalise holds more often, punters might favour Napoli in penalty-related markets or expect higher penalty counts in future Serie A matches.
Referees Admit Error in Juventus 3-0 Victory Over Napoli
Refereeing authorities have confirmed a mistake after a penalty was not awarded to Napoli in their 3-0 defeat to Juventus. The incident centred on a clash in the box where Gleison Bremer appeared to pull Rasmus Hojlund down, but no penalty was given.
What Happened in the Penalty Area
Two contacts occurred in the same sequence inside the penalty area. First, Pierre Kalulu and Antonio Vergara had a minor coming together. Seconds later, Bremer wrapped both arms around Hojlund, pulling him down. Match officials missed the second clear contact that would have warranted a penalty.
VAR Review Failings
A senior refereeing figure explained that the VAR referee, Maurizio Mariani, “did not see the Bremer–Hojlund situation.” The same source added: “He refereed very well overall, in this situation, he simply didn’t see the second contact. The first between Kalulu and Vergara is very light and there are no clear parameters for a penalty. However, Bremer has his arm around Hojlund’s neck and drags him down. This is certainly a foul and it is an evident tug. Mariani asked why couldn’t evaluate it himself, so there should’ve been an On-Field Review for Mariani.”
Authorities Confirm a Mistake
Officials said the VAR process was too hasty and that additional camera angles would have shown the foul more clearly. The admission acknowledges that the review should have led to an on-field review and a penalty decision in Napoli’s favour.
Consequences for Serie A Officiating
Refereeing authorities emphasised they are working with officials across Serie A and B to clamp down on holding and similar unsporting behaviour in the box. “We have been working with all the referees in Serie A and B to award more penalties for these holds, which in turn should lead to far fewer of these incidents. This is an unsporting attitude that we want to debilitate,” the official said.
Betting Implications
The admission of a missed penalty and the stated drive to punish holds more frequently could shift market expectations.
Punters might: back teams likely to win penalty appeals, target penalty-related props (player to win a penalty, team penalties), or expect slightly higher penalty counts in upcoming Serie A fixtures.
Consider margin and volatility: bookmakers may react quickly, so shop around for the best odds.
Official: Juventus confirm 22-man squad for Monaco in Champions League decider
The refereeing authorities admit there was a mistake in not awarding a penalty to Napoli...
Football Italia
