Are referees influencing football matches in Italy?
From correspondents in Italy, Lombardy, 02:02 PM IST There seems to be no end in Italy to the bitter criticism of referees, who some believe are set on influencing the outcome of games, and possibly of whole football seasons. For those bent on discovering plots, the line between inaccurate calls and alleged favours grew thinner at the weekend with the controversial awarding of a penalty kick to Serie A leaders Inter Milan that secured a 1-0 win over Empoli. As it happens after every game, hours of airtime were devoted to replaying what referees missed or misjudged. And from the repeated slow motions, still images and zoom-ins from various angles, it indeed appeared that Luca Vannucchi blocked a drive from Dejan Stankovic with his head rather than with his arm. On the pitch, though, referee Paolo Tagliavento judged otherwise, ignored Vannucchi’s protests and pointed to the spot. Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted to secure the win. There had been a similar episode two weeks earlier, with Inte
