Luciano Spalletti Supports Referee After Milan's Controversial Goal Against Juventus

Luciano Spalletti has come to the defence of referee Maurizio Mariani following a debated moment in the Serie A match between Juventus and AC Milan. The incident, which involved a physical clash between Juventus forward Randal Kolo Muani and Milan's Koni De Winter, led to a goal for Milan that stirred questions about whether a foul should have been called.

No Complaints from Spalletti

The Juventus coach chose not to criticize the officials after the game. Instead, he praised the refereeing and emphasized that minor contacts shouldn't always be penalized in today’s football. Spalletti made it clear that his team needs to own their defensive lapses rather than blaming the referee.

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

Modern Refereeing and Italian Football

Spalletti highlighted the need for Italian football to follow global trends when it comes to refereeing decisions, suggesting that soft contacts should not stop play. He believes Mariani made the correct call by letting the game continue, which eventually resulted in Milan scoring.

Focus on Juventus' Tactical Growth

Shifting away from the refereeing topic, Spalletti concentrated on what Juventus must improve. He wants his squad to press more aggressively and execute more purposeful plays when in possession. According to him, success comes from exploiting subtle moments and spaces often overlooked during matches.

"I am asking them to go and press, and to build serious things when we have the ball," Spalletti explained. "Then to make them learn that 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."

Current Standings and Next Fixture

The draw leaves Juventus in fifth place with seven points. They will look to recover and earn a win when they face Sassuolo away in their upcoming Serie A fixture.

• Serie A Standings: Juventus - 5th place, 7 points
• Next Match: Sassuolo vs Juventus, 13 September 2026, 21:45
• Other Upcoming Matches:
• Serie A Lazio vs AC Milan - 12 September 2026, 19:00