Roma vs Inter: Refereeing decisions and Kone’s goal confirmed by VAR
A breakdown of the key refereeing decisions in the Roma vs Inter match, including Kone's VAR-awarded goal and penalty appeals from Lautaro and Thuram.
The match between Roma and Inter was defined by several high-stakes refereeing decisions that required careful intervention from the VAR team. Official Massa managed the proceedings as both sides frequently challenged calls inside the box.
The most significant moment occurred in the 36th minute when Kone scored. Although the linesman initially flagged for offside, a lengthy VAR review confirmed the goal. The footage showed that Inter's Akanji was playing the line, and Kone remained behind the ball when the final touch was applied, making the position legal.
Tensions also flared in the 30th minute when Lautaro Martinez appealed for a penalty after the ball hit Paulo Dybala on the arm. The officiating team checked the incident and declined to point to the spot, ruling that the contact was close to the shoulder, the movement was toward the body, and the distance was short.
Furthermore, Massa dismissed a penalty claim from Marcus Thuram in the 48th minute after the striker went down following a challenge by Balerdi. The referee determined that the contact did not warrant a spot-kick, allowing play to continue without intervention.