Milan 1, Udinese 0: When VAR is MOTM

Milan won this match 1-0 vs. Udinese, and if you enjoyed it, either your name is Fonseca, or you hate football. Many are upset with the referee, Chiffi, but in actuality, he only enforced the rules. With the help of VAR, of course, which was also used correctly. First, Reijnders was sent off in just under 30 minutes with a straight red that seemed criminal. Chiffi called it, and VAR reviewed it and agreed. Then Udinese had not just one, but two goals called back for offside, both overturned by VAR review, even though Chiffi had originally awarded them both. Without VAR, this match would have ended at least 2-1 for Udinese. Instead, Milan took all three points, leaving a bad taste in everyone's match, and a whole bunch of stoppage time at the end. That is what happens when VAR is the Man of the Match.

When VAR is the focus, warriors like these will be forced to suffer.

The match was very violent, with Pavlović shoved in the throat by the giant 6'7" (2.01m) Lorenzo Lucca in just the third minute. No card, only a foul. Chiffi was widely criticized by fans for what he did call on Saturday, but it was actually all the violence he did not call that was far more egregious and created this atmosphere throughout the match.

Chukwueze got the match started off right with a goal.

It only took until the 13th minute for the goal, however. Okafor started it, Pulisic created it and selflessly sent it out to Chukwueze, who slotted it into the back of the net. 1-0 Milan. Then more violence. Iker Bravo fouled Pulisic, pulling him down from behind. No card, just a free kick awarded. Shots were traded at both ends, and in the 21st minute, once again, Kabasele just clotheslined Morata with what Chiffi must have seen as a "stray" arm, but the replays looked very intentional. Still no card. 

So it felt very ironic when Milan received the first card, and absolutely scandalous that it was a red card. Reijnders was sent off for the slightest of fouls on Lovrić, but he denied the Udinese player a clear goal scoring opportunity. And that is a straight red, according to the FIFA Laws of the Game Law 12. VAR reviewed it, to, and Milan-friendly former referees agreed it was the right call. A tough pill to swallow, as Reijnders barely clipped Lovric's heel as the player crossed in front of him, and now Mlan had to play 60 minutes on 10 men, and will be missing Reijnders next week as well.

Reijnders was carded after his man got in front of him, just clipping his heel.

At least the ensuing free kick was just wide of goal. Zemura had scored a goal just like that last week. The violent theme continued when Pavlović jammed or hurt his wrist in the 40th, but like the true warrior he is, he got some tape on it and continued to play. Bijol, who had been mercilessly fouling Morata the whole match, finally got a yellow card for it in the 43rd minute. Just a minute later, Ehizibue scored a goal for Udinese, but after a VAR review, using Semi-automated Offside Technology (SAOT,) he was shown to be a shoulder's width offside, and the goal was called back. On the play, however, Pavolović and Lucca clashed heads, and both had to be treated for cuts to the head.

At halftime, Fonseca replaced Okafor with Musah, and Terracciano was lucky to only see yellow for a very rash tackle on Ehizibue. Then came the most controversial non-call of the night. The giant 6'9" (2.06m) Touré clearly stamped on Chukwueze's foot. Not only the foot, but his cleats dug into his shins on the way down. What I don't understand is that Chiffi did whistle for a foul here. But not even a yellow card, let alone a red, which should have been the right call for something like this. Certainly, if Reijnders was sent off for a player cutting him off, Touré nearly breaking Chukwueze's leg or ankle should also have been a red card. But nothing. 

Morata and Chukwueze were repeatedly brutalized, but their attackers went largely unpunished.

It wasn't even clear whether or not VAR reviewed it for a possible red card. If they did, they did not see enough reason for Chiffi to change his call, which was absurd. Udinese were whistled for 14 fouls to Milan's three, yet only shown three yellow cards, while Milan was shown two yellows and a red, just to give you an idea of the inconsistency in reffing. VAR was used a few minutes later when there was a lot of physicality in the area during an Udinese set of chances, but again, no cards. Chukwueze was fouled again int he 62nd by Touré, it looked like he stepped on him again, but no call. Again. Udinese were aggrieved that they did not get a handball call on Pavlović, as well, and, depending on which interpretation of the handball rule the referee was using that day, it probably should have been called.

In the 72nd minute, Fonseca brought on the disgraced Tammy Abraham for Morata, who, once again, and worked hard all over the pitch. This is notable because just three minutes later, Pulisic had a shot that Okoye saved, but Abraham tried to follow it up, and tripped over Okoye, injuring his shoulder. So he was on the pitch for three minutes of play, and had to be subbed off, with Loftus-Cheek replacing him. Initial X-rays showed no fractures, but we are waiting to hear the extent of his injury. In the 88th minute, the also disgraced Tomori replaced Chukwueze, as Fonseca looked to try to keep from conceding in the final minutes.

Tammy Abraham had a very rough three minutes.

Maignan was shown a yellow card in the 89th minute for timewasting. Udinese continued to attack, they took 13 shots to Milan's ten on the night, however only one was considered on target, while Milan had five shots on target. I'm not sure how that works, because in the 95th minute of play, after saving the first attempt, Kabesele scored what seemed to be the equalizer. 

While Udinese were celebrating, it seemed that Mariani in the VAR booth was just looking for some way to call that goal back. After a long VAR review, they decided that the toe of one of the players was offside, and their second goal of the night was called back. There is a margin of error for SAOT, and honestly, sometimes these images look to be within that margin, so it is especially frustrating.

This whole review just seemed too much. If it wasn't blatantly clear, it should have been a goal.

This one was particularly suspicious, because in the end, it was SAOT that was used to determine the offside ruling, which is 100% a VAR thing, yet they called Chiffi over for an on field review and let him determine whether or not to call the goal back. I suppose they may have asked him to determine whether or not the player was actually involved in the play, but still, it reeked of a conspiracy against Udinese. If I was an Udinese fan, I would be very, very angry. Certainly, Milan have been on the wrong side of bogus calls like this before, so I could empathize.

Which is why this match left a bad taste in my mouth. Sure, our players fought hard, and I'm happy for them, but did not feel like an honest win, and VAR was the Man of the Match. Well, technically, Chukwueze was awarded the Serie A Player of the Match award, and Pulisic was voted MVP, but VAR stole the show... and the scoreline in this one. I have never liked VAR, but it has become too big a part of the game, and with the rumors of expanding its powers, such as giving managers a challenge per match to be able to question a VAR review, similar to American football, it only takes more time away from the football.

Despite technically conceding two goals, this defense battled ferociously.

Even more disconcerting was how pleased Fonseca was with himself, acting like it was his tactics and benching certain players that won this one and earned him some kind of redemption. He even went so far as to praise the fans, when the Curva Sud staged a silent protest (for some reason) for most of the match. No. If it were not for VAR, this would have been another three points lost. The scoreline only further fed his delusions and his ego, and that frightens me for the rest of the season. His self-righteous anger toward the problems he created did not deserve to be rewarded like this, and missing Reijnders next week will be costly. But this is the kind of thing that happens when VAR is the MOTM.

Milan Primavera Lose to Cremonese After Also Seeing Red

Bonomi scores a great header for his fifth goal of the season.

Ahead of the first team's match on Saturday, the Primavera hosted Cremonese. They were doing well, Comotto scored in the 29th to put them up 1-0 at halftime. Then Bonomi, who just can't stop scoring, scored yet again just after the half to put Milan up 2-0. Bonomi has five goals and an assist in all competitions so far this season. However, disaster struck in the 56th minute as Paloschi was sent off after attempting a volleyball block, earning his second yellow, then red card, leaving them on ten men for the rest of the match. Cremonese scored three unanswered goals to make it Milan 2, Cremonese 3, and take all three points from Guidi's side. That knocked Milan Primavera down one place in the standings to seventh on the table. The U19 players will face Club Brugge in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday.

Milan Futuro Continue the Red Card Trend, Losing 3-1 to Legnago Salus

Bartesaghi's first professional goal was lost in the mire of 2 teammate's red cards.

Not to be outdone by the other Milan teams, Milan Futuro actually ended on nine men. Bartesaghi started the match off by scoring his first ever professional goal in the 40th minute to put Futuro up 1-0 at halftime. The cards started flying, however, and in the 74th minute, Fodo Ballo-Touré, who had just begun to train with Milan Futuro, having been welcomed back into the circle from his exile, received a second yellow for a foul, so was sent off with his red card. Milan Futuro down to ten men. They conceded two goals within five minutes less than ten minutes after going down to ten men. 

Then Álex Jiménez was shown back to back yellow cards and then sent off in the 92nd minute, putting Futuro down to nine men. Cremonese scored one more goal to make the final score Milan Futuro 1, Legnago Salus 3. Highlights of the match are available on the Serie C YouTube channel. This dropped Milan Futuro into dead last in their group, although they do have a game in hand due to the international break forcing their match with Pescara to be rescheduled for November 21st. Their next match is away to Perugia on Sunday.

This post inspired by the music of Beck's "Loser"

UEFA Youth • League Phase

AC Milan U19 vs. Club Brugge KV U19

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 • 14:00 CEST (8am EDT)

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Serie A Week 8

AC Milan vs. Club Brugge KV

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 • 18:45 CEST (12:45pm EDT)

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Our next matches are:

Serie C Week 11 

Perugia vs Milan Futuro

Sunday, October 27, 2024 • 16:30 CEST (7:30am EDT)

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