The fallout from Saturday’s combustible Derby d’Italia has transcended the football pitch, as match official Federico La Penna has been placed under de facto house arrest following a deluge of death threats. The referee, who presided over Inter Milan’s contentious 3-2 victory against Juventus, has reportedly been advised by Italian authorities to remain inside his home while security assessments are conducted.
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The Kalulu Controversy
The catalyst for the hostility was La Penna’s decision to dismiss Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu. The Frenchman was shown a second yellow card following a challenge on Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni. However, television replays provided damning evidence that Bastoni had simulated the contact, collapsing to the turf without provocation.
The decision proved pivotal. Despite being reduced to ten men, the Bianconeri displayed immense grit to claw back to a 2-2 draw, only for Piotr Zielinski to snatch a 90th-minute winner for the hosts. The sense of injustice among the Juventus faithful was compounded by the fact that VAR protocols currently prohibit the review of second yellow cards—a regulatory loophole that left the visitors without recourse.
A Sinister Turn Off the Pitch
In the hours following the final whistle, the vitriol migrated from the stands to social media. La Penna was targeted with chilling precision, with some users posting his home address alongside threats to “shoot” and “kill” him and his family. The Italian Referees’ Association (AIA) has confirmed that La Penna has filed formal criminal complaints.
“La Penna is mortified,” stated Gianluca Rocchi, Serie A’s chief refereeing officer. “He made a clearly wrong decision, but he was deceived by a simulation. We stand by him, but we must also address a league culture where players try in every way to deceive us.”
Disciplinary and Technical Fallout
The AIA is expected to take internal action, with sources suggesting La Penna faces a minimum one-month suspension from top-flight duties. Meanwhile, Juventus officials, including Chief Executive Damien Comolli and Director of Football Strategy Giorgio Chiellini, face potential sanctions for their aggressive confrontations with the officiating team at half-time and in the tunnel.
Match Discrepancies and Statistics
The following table highlights the disparity between the on-field decision and the post-match analysis of the crucial incident:
| Feature | Official Match Ruling | Post-Match Technical Review |
| Kalulu Challenge | Foul / Second Yellow Card | Clean / No Foul |
| Bastoni Action | Victim of Foul | Simulation / Deception |
| VAR Status | Ineligible for Review | Not permitted by current protocol |
| Proposed Outcome | Red Card (Upheld) | Yellow Card for Bastoni (Simulation) |
| AIA Verdict | Correct Procedure | “Clearly Wrong Decision” |
Broader Implications for Italian Football
The incident has reignited the debate regarding simulation in Serie A. Bastoni, who also faced online abuse and was forced to disable his social media comments, has seen calls for his exclusion from the Italian national squad due to perceived unsporting conduct.
As Juventus mourns the loss of three points, the broader conversation has shifted toward the safety of officials. If a referee requires police protection for a sporting error, the “Calcio” landscape faces a much deeper crisis than a mere technical blunder.