REFEREE CHIEF APOLOGISES TO JUVENTUS AFTER "ABSURD" PIERRE KALULU RED CARD ERROR
Inter beat 10-man Juventus 3-2! Read about Zielinski’s winner and the "absurd" Kalulu red card that has sparked a Serie A crisis.
Inter Milan and Juventus cranked up their old rivalry again on Saturday night, and man, it was wild. The match exploded into drama, with Inter snatching a 3-2 win after Piotr Zielinski hammered in a stoppage-time goal against a Juventus squad left with just ten men.
Juventus lost Pierre Kalulu in the first half after he picked up two pretty questionable yellow cards. Inter’s players didn’t hide their delight; they celebrated while Juve fumed. You could see the frustration boiling over, both on the pitch and off. Juventus made it very clear they were furious about the officiating.
At halftime, Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, along with directors Damien Comolli and Giorgio Chiellini, stormed over to referee Federico La Penna. They weren’t quiet about it, either. All three were animated, shouting as they marched towards the dressing rooms, making sure La Penna knew exactly how they felt about Kalulu’s red card.
Kalulu tried to plead his case, insisting he was innocent, but it didn’t matter. The damage was done.
The anger didn’t stop there. Spalletti refused to speak to the media after the match, leaving Comolli and Chiellini to vent for him. Chiellini didn’t hold back on Sky Sport Italia. “We can’t talk about football after what happened today,” he said, clearly still seething. “This was completely unacceptable. It doesn’t matter if it happens to us or anyone else; VAR has to change after this. It’s not acceptable for so many errors to keep happening, especially in big games.”
Chiellini pointed out that Juventus, and plenty of other teams this season, have been saying since the beginning that Serie A’s refereeing just isn’t good enough. “This is what we’ve shown the world tonight,” he added. “It’s been happening to too many teams, and we have to stop messing around and actually change something in Italian football.”
Kalulu, as he left the field, even made a VAR gesture, which you can’t do, especially after a second yellow. But VAR didn’t step in, which just made Juve even angrier. Chiellini kept going: “Clubs have been complaining all season that the infrastructure just isn’t up to Serie A’s standards. Whether it’s poor training or just not being good enough, the referees aren’t at the level they should be.”
He even called out Gianluca Rocchi, Italy’s referee chief. “If Rocchi keeps saying he’ll step down, then let’s see if he actually does. Last week, Genoa’s De Rossi complained; before that, it was Roma’s Gasperini and Napoli’s Conte. We’re not the first, and we won’t be the last. Something’s broken, and the protocol has to change. Tonight proved it. Referees are human, just like players and coaches, but La Penna clearly wasn’t up to this game.”
Comolli, echoing Chiellini, called it “embarrassing” on Sky Sport Italia. “As a club, we feel embarrassed. From the owners to the fans, the players, and the coach, it can’t happen again. But it keeps happening, over and over. Tonight summed up the whole season. The whole world was watching, and it was just embarrassing.”
He also admitted nobody from Juve spoke to La Penna after the match. “No, we didn’t talk to him. It’s tough to accept this kind of injustice,” Comolli said. “We have to speak up. I talked to Luciano, Francois, and Giorgio. I didn’t talk to the players; I just told them ‘well done’ because they fought hard. But honestly, football wasn’t the main story tonight. The coach is frustrated and disappointed. It’s just not acceptable.”
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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