Reggina Ref To Be Suspended For Two Months
Paolo Dondarini, the referee at the centre of the controversy at Reggina on Saturday night, is set to be suspended from duty for two months, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.
Dondarini has been widely condemned throughout the peninsula for a shocking display at the Stadio Granillo.
The official denied Juventus two clear penalties, awarded Reggina a debatable spot-kick, while his overall management of the game was also perceived as clearly siding with the home side.
The Gazzetta says that as punishment Dondarini will be suspended for two months, and when he returns from his ban, he will be demoted to officiate matches in Serie B.
There was a similar sentence handed out to Mauro Bergonzi after the hugely controversial Napoli – Juventus clash last October. In that game Bergonzi awarded the Partenopei two scandalous penalties as they inflicted a 3-1 defeat on the Bianconeri.
The situation with referees in Serie A is fast descending into something of a crisis, and there are increasing calls that the federation should turn to foreign officials to help out at this delicate moment.
Anthony Sormani