Former Italian national team forward Mario Balotelli spoke about the key episode of the match in the qualification for Euro 2024 against the Ukrainian national team (0:0).
In his opinion, at the end of the game in Leverkusen, Brian Cristante fouled Mikhail Mudrik, and the referee should have awarded a penalty against the Azzura squad.
Balotelli on missed penalty
Balotelli said that if he had not been given such a penalty, he would have “gone crazy.”
Currently watching
– This is definitely a penalty. Of course, it’s good that we are going to the Euro, but let’s think about what our reaction would be if such a moment happened to us. It's a penalty. Dot. Mudryk got ahead of Cristante and it's a foul. Dot. There is no doubt about it,” the footballer said.
At the same time, he added that if a penalty had been awarded, Italian captain Gianluigi Donnarumma would still have dealt with that blow.
After the match, Donnarumma also suggested that the referee had every reason to award a penalty kick against the Italian national team.
Let us remember that during the referee's stoppage time in the second half, Italian defender Cristante fouled Mudryk in his own penalty area, which led to talk of a possible penalty and the decision of the referee, who did not review VAR.
According to former FIFA referee Miroslav Stupar, if there had been a VAR check by Gil Manzano, a penalty would definitely have been awarded.
Who is Mario Balotelli?
The 33-year-old football player plays as a forward. During his career, he defended the colors of different clubs, including: Manchester City, Inter, Milan, Liverpool, Nice. He currently plays for the Turkish club Adama Demirspor.
Want to rest? Come to Facti.GAMES!
As a member of the Italian national team, he became European vice-champion in 2012. He played for Squadra Azura until 2019.
