Orsato sets out refereeing approach: 'We'll punish fouls, not contact'
Quick summary
Veteran Serie A referee Daniele Orsato outlines his officiating philosophy, stating he will punish fouls while allowing normal physical contact to continue in Italian football.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceDaniele Orsato has set out the approach he wants from his officials as he prepares for his first season as Serie A and Serie B refereeing designator, promising a clear distinction between genuine fouls and incidental contact.
According to Corriere dello Sport , the former referee outlined his thinking to Rai Radio 1. “We’ll train to punish fouls, not contact in play,” Orsato said, laying down the guiding principle for the campaign ahead.
“These are intense days, we’re trying to study the individual profile of every referee. We’re looking for clear guidelines for the young officials, we’ll work on the athletic side and return to being technically strong.”
VENICE, ITALY – MAY 27: Referee Daniele Orsato makes his way on the pitch with assistants Alessandro Giallatini and Fabiano Preti during the Serie B Playoffs Final match between Venezia FC and AS Cittadella at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on May 27, 2021 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Nicolo Zangirolami/Getty Images) Orsato addresses soft penalties and simulation The new designator also touched on two long-running debates in Italian football: the awarding of soft penalties, or ‘rigorini’, and diving.
“We’ll follow the rules and work on our mistakes to get as few wrong as possible, the good faith and commitment of my lads will be total,” he said. On simulation, he promised vigilance: “We’ll monitor everything. This is an aspect that is on the decline.”
Orsato singled out Maurizio Mariani, the only Italian official at the World Cup, as a benchmark. “He put in three very good performances at the World Cup, he’ll be our guide on the pitch and an example for the younger ones,” he said.
Asked about the officiating at the tournament, he was complimentary, praising Slavko Vincic’s display in the final, while sidestepping the Balogun controversy entirely: “I didn’t take an interest in that subject. These are situations bigger than me.”
His remarks flesh out the new era of Italian officiating that will also see VAR used to review wrongly awarded corners and second yellow cards next season, a UEFA-inspired shift Orsato has been charged with implementing.
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What happened
Referee Daniele Orsato has publicly set out his approach to officiating in Serie A, drawing a clear line between fouls and acceptable physical contact. The veteran official's guidance emphasizes penalizing cynical or dangerous play while letting normal duels and challenges go unpunished. This clarification could shape how matches across the Italian top flight are officiated, particularly in terms of card distribution and free-kick frequency.
Chance analysis
A senior referee's public articulation of officiating philosophy is meaningful for match prediction systems and tactical preparation. Teams that rely on aggressive pressing, tactical fouling, or cynical interruptions may face increased disciplinary action, while technically proficient sides could benefit from greater playing continuity. The approach is also relevant for card and foul-count betting markets in Serie A fixtures.
Serie A officiating is likely to feature stricter punishment for cynical fouls, potentially increasing card counts and benefiting technical teams over physical ones.
Serie A matches may see more cards for cynical fouls while normal contact is allowed, affecting total cards and match flow predictions.