Adrien Rabiot criticises refereeing after Milan beat Genoa

Adrien Rabiot criticised the refereeing after Milan’s 2-1 win over Genoa in the eleventh round of the Italian league, calling for Genoa defender Marcandalli to be sent off following a challenge on him in the 49th minute. Referee Massa showed the player only a yellow card.

Rabiot continued to protest and was shown a yellow card, while members of Milan’s bench also complained, prompting the referee to send off three members of the medical and coaching staff. After the match, former referee Calvarese backed Massa’s decision, citing criteria concerning control of the ball, the direction of the attack, the number of defenders and the distance to goal.

Rabiot responded to Calvarese on social media, saying that mistakes can happen but should be acknowledged, and that continuing to deny them harms Italian football. Calvarese later described the incident as complex and in a grey area, explaining that the distance to goal, which he estimated at around 65 metres, and Rabiot’s position, slightly angled away from the direction of goal, were among the factors that led Massa to show a yellow card.