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

Gasperini Condemns VAR Freeze-Frames Following Malen's Controversial Sending Off

Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's manager, expressed strong frustration over the decision to send off Donyell Malen during their goalless draw against Como. The Italian coach argued that freeze-frame replays misrepresent the reality of fast-paced football moments and spoil the spirit of the game.

Displeasure Over Malen's Dismissal

The red card was shown in the 53rd minute at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, forcing Roma to play with ten men for almost forty minutes. This shift led to a more defensive approach in what had been an open match. Gasperini stood by Malen, rejecting the notion that his player acted aggressively on purpose. He pointed out that Malen had been fouled multiple times before the incident with Como’s Kaiki.

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

Criticism of Video Replay Analysis

When shown the replay of the challenge, Gasperini was quick to criticize officials who rely on static images to judge high-speed physical contacts. He said it was hard to believe Malen was playing violently when he was actually held back and had momentum during the tackle.

"The jump looked rough, but there was no intention to cause harm. It was an incident that spoiled the match," he explained."There’s no point in freezing the frame; football isn’t about frames. You can justify anything this way, but it distorts the truth. Stop with the frames because they distort reality."

Respect for Team's Fight Despite Adversity

Though angry at the refereeing, Gasperini praised Roma’s resilience while reduced to ten players against Como. They managed to hold on and secure Serie A’s first 0-0 draw of the season.

"Playing over 30 minutes with ten men against a strong side like Como is disappointing," Gasperini admitted."I don’t know how it would have gone with eleven players, but we stayed confident. Getting a draw under these circumstances is acceptable."

Looking Ahead: Maintaining Defensive Strength

Roma survived intense pressure late in the game, even as Como attacked with six players. They left Lombardy with a valuable point to keep their domestic campaign steady. Gasperini remains hopeful about his squad’s growth despite dropping two points.

The team will now assess Malen’s suspension before their next Serie A match. Gasperini expects the same defensive determination from his players in future fixtures.

• Upcoming Matches:
• Champions League: Feyenoord vs. FEY, 14 Oct 2026, 19:45
• Serie A: Como vs. COM, 14 Oct 2026, 22:00
• Champions League: Real Madrid vs. RMA, 14 Oct 2026