Overview

• Bologna defeated AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final with a decisive goal from Dan Ndoye, but officiating decisions became the focal point post-match.
• Bologna defender Beukema's elbow on Milan’s Gabbia, a clear red-card offense, went unpunished, drawing criticism of referee Maurizio Mariani and VAR official Meraviglia.
• The Italian Referees Association (AIA) guidelines state that violent conduct should be penalized regardless of intensity, but this was not enforced in Beukema's case.
• VAR failed to initiate an On-Field Review for the incident, raising questions about the system's effectiveness and operational consistency.
• Multiple contentious calls, including denied penalty claims and lenient bookings, have intensified debates over fairness and the enforcement of disciplinary standards in Italian football.