Juventus directors Giorgio Chiellini and Damien Comolli protested the ‘totally unacceptable’ and ‘embarrassing’ refereeing in their 3-2 defeat to Inter, asking Gianluca Rocchi to resign.
It was a chaotic Derby d’Italia and a controversial one too, with Andrea Cambiaso scoring at both ends, then Manuel Locatelli replying to the Francesco Pio Esposito header.
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Even when down to 10 men, Juve kept fighting back for 2-2 and eventually capitulated at the 90th minute when Piotr Zielinski’s strike went through Locatelli’s legs to wrong-foot an uncertain Michele Di Gregorio.
That Pierre Kalulu red card just before half-time changed the game, as the second yellow was awarded for no contact with Alessandro Bastoni.
Juventus take unprecedented stand against refereeing
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Manuel Locatelli of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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Luciano Spalletti therefore did not speak to the media, as Juventus sent directors Chiellini and Comolli instead.
“We cannot talk about football after what happened today,” Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia.
“Something completely unacceptable happened today, it doesn’t matter whether it happens to us or someone else, and from tomorrow presumably VAR will have to change, because this is not acceptable that so many errors keep happening even in big games like this.
“We’ve been trying to say since the start of the season that the level of refereeing is not up to the task, and this unfortunately is the spectacle we showed to the rest of the world today. It happened to many teams this season, we have to change, we cannot keep procrastinating the way we always do in Italian football.”
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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Kalulu made the ‘VAR’ gesture with his hands, but they could not intervene, as the protocol bans them from getting involved with yellow card situations.
This too is something that might be changed when IFAB re-evaluates the rules going forward, along with giving coaches the option of requesting a certain number of VAR appeals.
“It has been since the start of the season that many clubs have been complaining the infrastructure is just not at the level of Serie A. I don’t know if they’re not trained properly, not up to the task, whatever the reason for it, the fact is the referees are not up to the standard of Serie A football.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 13: Giorgio Chiellini attends the Gold Carpet during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
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So are Juventus calling for refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi to stand down?
“If you want to make it clear, it is obvious that the group of referees are not working, so if Rocchi keeps saying he’ll go, then we’ll see now if he does go,” added Chiellini.
“Last week De Rossi complained, before that Gasperini and Conte, so we are not the first and not the last. Something clearly isn’t working and one of the first things we can do is change the protocol.
“Look, it’s disappointing, the referees are just like players and coaches, but it is obvious La Penna was not up to this game.”
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Damien Comolli, General Manager of Juventus looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
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Spalletti had already complained about refereeing in Serie A and the Coppa Italia last week, so his mood certainly would not have been improved by La Penna’s performance this evening.
“Obviously, as a club we feel today is an embarrassing,” Comolli told Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s embarrassing what happened today, and we feel strongly as a club from the ownership, to the fans, to the players, to the coach, it cannot happen again. It’s been happening again and again, again and again, tonight was the summary of what we’ve seen this season.
“For a game like this, with the whole world watching, it’s just embarrassing.”
There was footage of Chiellini, Comolli and other Juventus figures screaming angrily at referee La Penna in the tunnel going into half-time, so did they speak to him afterwards?
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“No, we have not spoken to La Penna after the game,” confirmed Comolli.
“It is very difficult to accept injustice like this, very difficult. We have to say something. We spoke to Luciano, Francois and Giorgio. I didn’t speak to the players, I just told them well done, they fought very well, but I don’t think we can talk about football tonight.
“The coach is extremely frustrated and disappointed, it’s totally unacceptable.”
