The Serie A sports judge has imposed severe sanctions on Juventus directors Damien Comolli and Giorgio Chiellini following incidents in the tunnel at San Siro stadium. The dispute erupted during halftime of Saturday's match against Inter Milan, with the flashpoint being a controversial red card for Pierre Kalulu. The match referee, Federico La Penna, has also become the target of criminal threats, which are now the subject of a prosecutor's investigation in Milan.

Severe penalties for management

Damien Comolli suspended until March, and Giorgio Chiellini until February for aggressive behavior towards referee La Penna.

Bastoni's mea culpa

Inter defender admitted to simulating contact, which led to the unjust sending-off of Pierre Kalulu in the first half.

Prosecutor's investigation

The Milan prosecutor's office is investigating death threats made against referee Federico La Penna and his family.

The decisions of sports judge Gerardo Mastrandrei after Saturday's Derby d'Italia have sparked intense emotions in the football world. Damien Comolli, Juventus' general manager, has been suspended until March 31, 2026 and fined €15,000. According to the referee's report, Comolli behaved aggressively towards referee Federico La Penna in the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms, attempting to make physical contact. Meanwhile, Giorgio Chiellini, serving as director of football strategy, has been banned from his duties until February 27, 2026 for offensive remarks directed at the referees. The rivalry between Inter Milan and Juventus, known as the Derby d'Italia, has for decades produced the most refereeing controversies in Italy, peaking with the 2006 Calciopoli scandal. The flashpoint was an incident at the end of the first half, when Pierre Kalulu received a second yellow card for an alleged foul on Alessandro Bastoni. However, television replays showed that the Inter defender clearly initiated contact and exaggerated his fall. Bastoni publicly admitted his mistake on Tuesday, apologizing for his behavior. Despite this, Kalulu was penalized with a one-match league suspension. The situation surrounding referee La Penna became so serious that after receiving death threats targeting him and his family, the Milan prosecutor's office launched an official investigation into the matter. Inter vs Juventus Match Result: Inter Milan 3:2 Juventus FC In an official statement, Comolli admitted that his reaction was excessive, explaining it as driven by a sense of deep injustice and a desire to defend the club's interests. Juventus announced it will analyze the justification of the verdict before deciding on a possible appeal. The entire incident casts a shadow over what was an exciting sporting spectacle, which ended with a 3-2 victory for Inter, strengthening the Milan side's position at the top of the Serie A table. March 31 — Damien Comolli is suspended until this date „The reaction was excessive, but Juventus suffered injustice. I defend my club and regret the overly intense emotions.” — Damien Comolli

Mentioned People

  • Damien Comolli — General manager of Juventus, penalized with a long suspension.
  • Federico La Penna — Referee of the Inter-Juventus match, target of criminal threats.
  • Giorgio Chiellini — Juventus legend, currently a director, suspended for insulting referees.
  • Pierre Kalulu — Juventus defender unjustly penalized with a red card.
  • Alessandro Bastoni — Inter defender who admitted to simulating a foul.