Gian Piero Gasperini Criticizes VAR After Donyell Malen's Red Card in Roma's Draw at Como

Gian Piero Gasperini Reacts Strongly to Donyell Malen’s Red Card

Roma’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed strong displeasure over the red card shown to forward Donyell Malen during their goalless draw against Como. The incident occurred in the 53rd minute of the match at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, leaving Roma with ten players for nearly forty minutes.

Gasperini criticized the use of freeze-frame video replays by referees, arguing that such static images misrepresent the fast-paced nature of football and lead to unfair decisions. He insisted that Malen was not acting with intent to harm and had been fouled repeatedly before the tackle on Como’s Kaiki.

"We were forced to defend ourselves after the red card. Malen was repeatedly fouled before the tackle," Gasperini said.

Coach Slams Television Replays for Distorting Reality

When confronted with footage of the challenge, Gasperini doubled down on his criticism of how referees rely on paused frames to judge high-speed physical contacts.

"To say Malen was playing violently is hard to believe; he was held back and had momentum," Gasperini explained. "The jump was ugly, but there was no intent to inflict any damage. It was definitely an incident that ruined the match."

"There is no point in freezing the frame; football is not made up of frames. You can justify everything this way, but the concept matters. Stop with the frames because they distort reality."

Praise for Roma’s Resilience Despite the Setback

Despite his frustration, Gasperini acknowledged the team’s effort to adapt tactically after going a man down. Roma managed to hold off a persistent Como attack and secured Serie A’s first 0-0 draw of the season.

"Over 30 minutes of 90 minutes, you play with ten men against a strong team like Como, and it is disappointing," he noted. "I don't know how it would have ended with 11 men, but we were confident. A draw in these conditions is fine."

Looking Ahead

Roma will soon assess the suspension that Malen faces following his dismissal as they prepare for upcoming Serie A matches. Gasperini expects his squad to maintain the defensive toughness they showed while a player short.

The draw helps Roma keep steady momentum domestically, even if they dropped two points. They remain focused on continuing their progress despite the challenges.

• Match: Como vs Roma
• Result: 0-0
• Red Card: Donyell Malen (53rd minute)
• Stadium: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia
• Key Event: Roma played nearly 40 minutes with 10 men