Referee Chief: Tudor right but protest ‘excessive’, De Bruyne’s foul was penalty

Referee designator Gianluca Rocchi admits Juventus coach Igor Tudor was right to be upset about referee decisions in a game against Verona, but used ‘excessive tones’ while Kevin De Bruyne’s foul on Mehdi Leris should have resulted in a penalty kick against Napoli.

Referee Chief Rocchi analysed the most controversial referee incidents after Serie A Round 4, mostly focusing on Juventus and Napoli matches.

The Bianconeri were held to a 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona, but Rocchi admitted that the penalty kick that allowed Verona to level the score should not have been awarded, while the Gialloblu striker Gift Orban should have been sent off.

Rocchi: ‘Excessive’ Tudor protest after Verona vs. Juventus

VERONA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Gift Orban of Hellas Verona scores the equaliser with a penalty kick during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on September 20, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

“The [penalty] decision is not correct; it is not a penalty,” Rocchi said on Tuesday via Gazzetta.

“The dynamic does not make Joao Mario’s handball punishable. The player goes to head the ball, and the dropping ball hits his arm.”

Juventus coach Tudor argued that Verona even deserved a red card in the first half as Orban had elbowed Federico Gatti, and Rocchi agreed.

VERONA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Igor Tudor Head Coach of Juventus FC looks on prior to the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on September 20, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

“In this case, it was correct to give a red card. The player looks at his opponent. It’s a red card to be given on the field. VAR and AVAR handled the situation too hastily.”

Rocchi, however, was unhappy with the words used by Tudor during his post-match interviews.

“He is right in Orban’s case, but I’d like the correct terms to be used. Excessive tones are not appropriate. I ask for cooperation; otherwise, it becomes a brawl.

“We are always very strict. It was one of the best VAR officials to make a mistake. These things happen, but we suspend them for disciplinary reasons, not technical ones. In any case, meritocracy counts.”

Another debated incident occurred on Monday night when De Bruyne was lucky to avoid a penalty kick against Napoli for a foul on Pisa’s Leris.

De Bruyne’s foul vs. Pisa was worthy of a penalty kick

NAPLES, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on August 30, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The Pisa player had fallen onto the ball, touching it with his arm in the build-up, but according to Rocchi, this should not have led to the penalty being disallowed after a VAR check.

“This kind of handball is never punishable. Whether in attack or in defence,” Rocchi concluded.

“VAR and AVAR were misled by the slow motion. If a Pisa player had scored, then the goal would have been disallowed. Here, the on-field review was correct, but it should have been a penalty for the stamp.”