MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Rafael Leao of AC Milan scores his team’s second goal from a penalty kick during the Serie A match between AC Milan and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Referee Livio Marinelli and VAR Risario Abisso will not face any punishment or suspension following their controversial penalty call during Milan’s 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in San Siro on Sunday evening.
Milan-Fiorentina referee and VAR escape punishment
Milan rose to the top of the Serie A standings thanks to their victory over Fiorentina on Sunday evening.
The Rossoneri had fallen behind to a Robin Gosens goal 10 minutes into the second half, but found an equaliser through a Rafael Leao stunner. The Portugal international then found the winner from the penalty spot five minutes from time.
Rafael Leao celebrates scoring his team’s second goal from a penalty kick during the Serie A match between AC Milan and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 19, 2025 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Fiorentina were left furious by the decision to award Milan a penalty, however. Santiago Gimenez had gone down in the area holding his face after a light touch on the shoulder from Fabiano Parisi.
Marinelli did not initially blow for a penalty, but later overturned his decision after seeing the incident again upon the recommendation from VAR Abisso.
The incident did not solely concern Fiorentina either, as the penalty decision has sent Milan to the top of the Serie A standings, above Inter, Napoli and Roma, who are all level on points from second place down to fourth.
OCTOBER 19: A general view as players celebrate victory in front of their fans after defeating Fiorentina during the Serie A match between AC Milan and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 19, 2025 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Despite facing immediate criticism from fans, pundits and the press, the officials involved in the penalty call will not face any punishment according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Marinelli, referee on the night, and Abisso, on VAR duty, will not be taken off Serie A duty for the next round of fixtures, Monday’s reports confirm.
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