Serie A Referee Under Police Protection Following Threats

The fallout from a contentious Derby d’Italia has escalated into a security crisis, as Serie A referee Federico La Penna has been placed under de facto house arrest following a barrage of death threats. The official, who oversaw Inter Milan’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Juventus on Saturday, is reportedly being guarded by Italian police after his personal safety and that of his family were compromised by online extremists.

A Controversial Dismissal Ignites Fury

The catalyst for the hostility occurred when La Penna dismissed Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, brandishing a second yellow card for an alleged foul on Alessandro Bastoni. Television replays subsequently confirmed that Bastoni had simulated the contact, but because VAR protocols strictly prohibit intervention on second yellow cards, the decision stood.

The numerical disadvantage proved fatal for the Bianconeri. Despite a spirited comeback to level the scores at 2-2 with ten men, Inter snatched a winner through Piotr Zielinski in the 90th minute. Following the final whistle, the digital vitriol was instantaneous. Pro-Juventus accounts allegedly posted La Penna’s home address alongside chilling messages, including "I’ll shoot you" and "We know where you live," prompting the Italian Referees’ Association (AIA) to seek law enforcement intervention.

Administrative Sanctions and Institutional Regret

While the police handle the criminal aspect of the threats, the AIA is preparing its own disciplinary response. Gianluca Rocchi, Serie A’s chief refereeing officer, described the dismissal as a "clearly wrong decision," acknowledging that the sporting integrity of the match was undermined.

The "Scandal of Simulation"

The incident has reignited the debate surrounding the "dark arts" of Italian football. Rocchi expressed frustration not just with La Penna’s error, but with the conduct of the players. "La Penna is mortified," Rocchi stated. "But we must address the truth: there was a clear simulation—the latest in a series where players try in every possible way to deceive us."

The Juventus hierarchy remains incensed. Giorgio Chiellini, the club’s director of football strategy, labelled the events "unacceptable," while CEO Damien Comolli suggested that while Juventus lost three points, the reputation of Italian football suffered a far greater loss. Both Comolli and manager Luciano Spalletti face potential touchline bans for their heated protests in the tunnel at half-time.

As the authorities investigate the digital footprints of those issuing threats, the Italian football world is left to reflect on a toxic culture where a refereeing mistake can transition from a sporting debate into a police matter within hours.