Yet another refereeing decision has cost Roma points after VAR ruled-off a late Nicolo Zaniolo goal.
The Giallorossi thought they had all three points in the bag after the attacker hit a perfectly placed shot past Salvatore Sirigu in the 89th minute. But a shocking decision from VAR overturned the goal after an on-field review determined Tammy Abraham committed a foul in the buildup on Johan Vasquez.
Referee Rosario Abisso’s decision left Roma furious and resulted in Zaniolo being sent off for protesting.
Tensions were still high at full-time when manager Jose Mourinho appeared on DAZN for his post-match interview.
“I don’t want to comment on it. I can comment on the game, but not the goal, not the sending off or the reactions afterwards,” he said.
“I want to avoid discussing it. If it’s determined that the referee made the correct decision, then the game that people fell in love with years ago has changed. If that’s the foul then this isn’t football anymore, we’ll have to call it something else.”
He continued, “We’ll have to come up with a new name because it’s an entirely different sport, not football. Nonetheless, it’s déjà vu for us because this has happened to us so many times this season.”
“Perhaps it’s also that Roma are considered ‘small’ in the eyes of those who are powerful. I leave it there, as the Mourinho who arrived here seven months ago and has a different profile than before.”
“Zaniolo was sent off for telling the referee what the f**k are you whistling a foul for? Now you tell me, would Chiellini at Juve’s stadium or Zlatan at the San Siro have been sent off for saying this?”
