Italian referees and linesmen will be under more scrutiny than ever during this week’s fixtures after a series of mishaps at the weekend.
Serie A is the only major European league to use two extra linesmen but the system, heavily favoured by UEFA president Michel Platini, was unable to prevent controversies which left Catania, Lazio and Roma all fuming and leaders Juventus on the defensive.
Catania president Antonio Pulvirenti was still angry after replays showed his team had a first-half goal wrongly disallowed at home to Juventus, who went on to win 1-0.
He suggested that Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who on Friday said that Italian football was in need of reform, should hand Catania the three points as an example of fair play and transparency.
“If Agnelli wants to reform football, he can start in the simplest of ways, by suggesting that his team forfeit the match 0-3,” Pulvirenti, who on Sunday said the referee had been harassed by the Juventus bench, said in a radio interview.
Juventus sporting director Beppe Marotta agreed that Catania’s goal should have been allowed, but denied his club pressured referees.
“Juventus is a serious club and even if that goal had stood, nobody can say the game would have finished in that way,” he said in a radio interview.
“I deny that it was our players who tempted the referee to reconsider. The linesman’s flag was raised at the time of the goal to indicate an offside.
“I can only share the judgment about the mistake. They happen, just as they happened in other games yesterday (Sunday), in the previous round of matches and last season, where Juventus were on the receiving end.
“But if we suggest that Juventus had influenced the referee, then I deny that completely.”
Roma, beaten 3-2 at home by Udinese, were also upset about the penalty from which Antonio Di Natale scored the winning goal.
“It was a bad day for referees,” Roma coach Zdenek Zeman told reporters.
“They say referees can’t decide a championship, but I think they can. In the case of Catania, the result was changed from 1-0 to 0-1.”
Lazio were seething after Stefano Mauri had what appeared to be a perfectly good goal disallowed against Fiorentina, who were winning 1-0 at the time.
“In the second half we dominated until the decisions went against us. The goal was clearly not offside,” said coach Vladimir Petkovic.
Fiorentina went on to win 2-0 and Lazio had two players sent off in the last 15 minutes.
Milan, eleventh with 10 points from nine games, kick off the midweek fixtures with a visit to Palermo tonight.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri has enjoyed some respite after his team beat Genoa on Saturday, but it could be short-lived if they lose in Sicily.
Leaders Juventus, who have 25 points and are unbeaten in 48 Serie A games, should take three more points at home to struggling Bologna tomorrow.
Napoli, three points behind in second place, visit Atalanta and third-placed Inter host fading Sampdoria.
Serie A
Today – 20.45
Palermo vs Milan
Tomorrow – 20.45
Atalanta vs Napoli
Cagliari vs Siena
Chievo vs Pescara
Inter vs Sampdoria
Juventus vs Bologna
Lazio vs Torino
Parma vs Roma
Udinese vs Catania
Thursday – 20.45
Genoa vs Fiorentina
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Juventus | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 25 |
| Napoli | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 22 |
| Inter | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 21 |
| Lazio | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 18 |
| Fiorentina | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 15 |
| Roma | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 14 |
| Parma | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Udinese | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
| Catania | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 11 |
| Cagliari | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 11 |
| Milan | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Sampdoria (-1) | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
| Torino (-1) | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Genoa | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 9 |
| Atalanta (-2) | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 9 |
| Pescara | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 8 |
| Bologna | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 7 |
| Palermo | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 7 |
| Chievo | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 7 |
| Siena (-6) | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 3 |
Serie B
Today – 20.45
Ternana vs Sassuolo - 18.00
Ascoli vs Novara
Bari vs Empoli
Cesena vs Grosseto
Cittadella vs Brescia
Crotone vs Verona
Juve Stabia vs Reggina
Modena vs Padova
Pro Vercelli vs Spezia
Varese vs Vicenza
Lanciano vs Livorno
Standings: Sassuolo 28; Verona 24; Livorno 22; Padova (-2) 17; Ternana, Cittadella 16; Juve Stabia, Spezia, Varese (-1) 15; Modena (-2), Brescia 14; Bari (-7), Ascoli (-1) 12; Vicenza 11; Novara (-4), Crotone (-2) 10; Reggina (-3), Empoli (-1), Cesena 9; Pro Vercelli, Lanciano 8; Grosseto 3.