Luciano Spalletti Defends Referee After Milan Goal Sparks Debate in Juventus Clash

Luciano Spalletti has come out in support of referee Maurizio Mariani after a contentious moment involving Randal Kolo Muani led to a goal for AC Milan in their Serie A match against Juventus. The Juventus coach dismissed complaints about the contact during the play, emphasizing that such minor physical interactions are not fouls under modern football standards.

Referee Praised Amid Debate

The clash between Kolo Muani and Koni De Winter resulted in a goal for Milan, stirring discussion on whether a foul should have been called. Spalletti declined to criticise the match officials, instead praising the level of refereeing shown by Mariani. He stated that the defenders should accept responsibility for defensive lapses rather than blaming referees.

"Mariani is one of the best Italian referees and in my opinion, the line we are seeing is correct. We are adapting to what happens around the world. These are not fouls and it is right not to blow the whistle."

Embracing Modern Refereeing Trends

Spalletti stressed the need for Italian football to follow global trends by overlooking soft contacts during matches. He affirmed that Mariani’s decision to let play continue was the right call and emphasized that only clear impacts or fouls warrant stoppages.

"Either there is an impact, a foul... Everything is fine, I am not going to complain about these things here. The team should have brought the goal home earlier."

Focus on Juventus’ Tactical Growth

Shifting attention from refereeing, Spalletti urged his players to improve tactically. He called for more pressing and proactive play in possession, highlighting the importance of exploiting unnoticed spaces on the pitch to change the course of matches.

"I am asking them to go and press, and to build serious things when we have the ball. The real difference is made in the spaces that no one measures. It is made in those moments where everything seems normal and you have the strength to overturn the result."

Juventus’ Position and Upcoming Fixtures

This draw keeps Juventus in fifth place with seven points. They aim to recover with a win against Sassuolo in their next Serie A outing.

Next Matches:

• Lazio vs AC Milan: 12 Sept 2026, 19:00
• Sassuolo vs Juventus: 13 Sept 2026, 21:45