Ac Milan vs Spezia: Referee Reportedly Burst to Tears After Error Costs Rossoneri Win

Ac Milan vs Spezia: Referee Reportedly Burst to Tears After Error Costs Rossoneri Win

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
  • The referee in the Serie A match involving AC Milan and Spezia had a moment of controversy late on
  • Marco Serra blew for a free-kick after Milan had scored for an 'advantage' situation
  • Spezia went on to score a dramatic winner , and the ref was distraught after the match to the point of tears

A referee in the Serie A had to be consoled by players after making a controversial call that eventually led to title contenders AC Milan suffering a shock 2-1 loss to minions Spezia.

Ac Milan vs Spezia
Referee Marco Serra made a costly error during AC Milan vs Spezia. Photo by Marco Luzzani.
Source: Getty Images

An injury-time goal at the San Siro condemned the Rossoneri to defeat in a game where they needed and were expected to scoop all three points to keep up with City rivals Inter Milan.

The game could have gone a lot different if referee Marco Serra had not made a controversial call late in the game.

With the game finely poised at 1-1, AC Milan were going in search of a winner and Ante Rebic was going forward in attack.

Rebic was about to shoot when he was clipped by a defender, with the ball falling to another AC Milan player Junior Messias, who brilliantly finished into the top corner.

Amid very brief celebrations, Milan players were stunned to realize Serra had already blown the whistle for a foul, thereby ruling out the goal.

As expected, Milan players were extremely furious by the controversial call, and they made their feelings known.

Fair play needs to be given to Serra, who, once he realised his mistake, raised his hands in apology.

The referee must have hoped Milan would score from the resulting free kick but it would be Spezia who eventually got the winner moments later..

According to Corriere della Sera, the referee was so distraught over his decision that he was in tears in the dressing room after the match.

The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and other Milan had to console him after the game as they realised he was just a 39-year old match official who made an honest mistake.

Refereeing mistakes in the past

In terms of errors, Serra’s mistake will only go down as one of the many mistakes done by match officials in the recent past.

More recently, there was refereeing drama in the Africa Cup of Nations after Janny Sikazwe, the match official in charge of the Group F clash involving Tunisia and Mali blew for the full-time whistle early twice.

His refereeing triggered a string of follow-up events, including Tunisia moving to the Caf to appeal the officiating.

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Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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