Atalanta and Roma clash over ‘absurd’ VAR calls
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 03: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta strikes the ball during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma at New Balance Arena on January 03, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) Mile Svilar and Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini asserted that Giorgio Scalvini’s ‘absurd’ goal for Atalanta should not have counted, while La Dea questioned why Gianluca Scamacca’s goal was ruled out. Atalanta secured a 1-0 victory in Bergamo tonight with Scalvini pushing a corner over the line from six yards after Svilar mishandled the ball. The VAR scrutinized the footage for an extended period but ultimately approved the goal, concluding that any obstruction faced by the Roma goalkeeper was caused by his teammate Devyne Rensch, not Scalvini. Claims of a handball were dismissed, as the ball struck his chest.
Atalanta and Roma both frustrated with referee and VARBERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 03: Giorgio Scalvini of Atalanta scores his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma at New Balance Arena on January 03, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) “It’s evident to anyone watching, raising serious concerns regarding the VAR’s performance,” Gasperini told DAZN. “From the footage, it’s a ludicrous goal to allow based on the current rules. It’s not acceptable to award it when viewing this evidence. We waited for three minutes, and after seeing the replay, there’s no justification for it not being disallowed. “You can’t modify the rule for every incident. There are two grounds for canceling it: one is the contact on the goalkeeper, and the other is the handball from the scorer. It’s completely inexplicable. It’s outrageous.” Svilar himself argued it was a foul, even after former goalkeeper Walter Zenga clarified in the Sky Sport Italia studio that the interference was caused by Rensch, not Scalvini.
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 03: Mile Svilar of AS Roma reacts during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma at New Balance Arena on January 03, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) “I get that, but I felt something on my arm and then behind my head. For me, when a goalkeeper is touched in the six-yard area, it should always be called a foul,” explained the keeper. DAZN refereeing expert Luca Marelli described the Scalvini situation as a “classic grey area,” noting that “Svilar was obstructed by Rensch, but it’s also a fact that Scalvini had both hands on the goalkeeper’s face prior to making contact with the ball. For that reason, I would have canceled the goal. However, there was no handball.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 03: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta celebrates after scoring with his teammate Giorgio Scalvini before the goal was disallowed during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma at New Balance Arena on January 03, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) Meanwhile, Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino admitted he still could not grasp why the second Atalanta goal was ruled out. Scamacca found the net, but after an extensive VAR check, the referee was instructed to conduct an On-Field Review and ultimately disallowed it due to an active offside claim. However, it could be argued that Scamacca did not actively challenge Mario Hermoso to reclaim the ball after drifting from an offside position, as Hermoso’s poor first touch redirected it into the striker’s path.
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 03: Mario Hermoso of AS Roma competes for the ball with Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma at New Balance Arena on January 03, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) It seems more plausible to say that Hermoso’s touch put Scamacca back onside, making the offside earlier in midfield irrelevant. “I would have still disallowed the goal, because Scamacca benefited from being offside and played a part in the buildup,” insisted DAZN referee analyst Marelli. In contrast, Sky Sport Italia analysts opposed the ruling that canceled this goal.
Published: 2026-01-03 22:54:00
source: football-italia.net
