Spalletti refuses to blame referee for Milan's goal, appears to taunt journalists
Quick summary
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti held a press conference where he declined to criticize the referee over AC Milan's goal, while apparently mocking journalists with his answers.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceJuventus coach Luciano Spalletti admits Koni De Winter didn’t foul Randal Kolo Muani in the build-up to Milan’s opener last night: ‘I’m not going to complain about these things.’
Juventus and Milan picked up a 1-1 draw in their meeting at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
LECCE, ITALY – MAY 09: Head coach of Juventus FC Luciano Spalletti during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) Football Italia was among the accredited media and attended Spalletti’s post-match press conference, during which the Italian tactician was asked whether he felt Milan’s opener should have been disallowed for a potential De Winter foul on Kolo Muani in the build-up.
Spalletti: ‘I won’t complain’ about referee after Milan’s goal “Mariani is one of the best Italian referees, and in my opinion, the line we are seeing is correct,” Spalletti replied.
“If you want to play in Europe, you have to adapt; these are not fouls, and they don’t get called. That’s the right way to do it. Of course, there can be incidents where a foul isn’t given or a yellow card is missed, but at the speed of the game, these things can happen even to a good, experienced referee like him.”
#JuveMilan | il dettaglio della refcam e della visuale di Mariani sul contatto De Winter / Kolo Muani ( DAZN).
Non è uno “step on foot” pieno, ma sicuramente il tallone destro del rossonero va a pestare la punta del piede sinistro del bianconero.
Lo scorso anno (sebbene le… pic.twitter.com/k649AhFzaS
— Denis Errori Arbitrali (@erroriarbitrali) September 6, 2026
The way Serie A games are being officiated this season is very different from the past, as no penalty kick has been awarded and no VAR intervention has taken place yet.
Spalletti seemed to take a dig at journalists, saying the new refereeing rules might limit their talking points after games.
“As I said the other time, this world ‘contact’ that you like to use,” he said.
“They teach you that contact means nothing. [Referee designator] Orsato will take the music away from you. Because it’s like a melody, and he takes that away from you because he doesn’t blow the whistle for a contact. Either there is an impact, or there is a foul, or you have to call it something else.
“I’m not going to complain about these things; I want to see my team fight until the very end. We were lucky, because we should have taken the goal home earlier.”
Football Italia examined the game during a live post-match show from the Allianz Stadium last night.
Juventus and Roma have seven points each after the opening three Serie A games, and only Inter and Roma have grabbed nine points in the first three matches.
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What happened
Following a Juventus match involving AC Milan, head coach Luciano Spalletti addressed the media and was asked about a controversial Milan goal and the referee's role. Spalletti refused to lay blame on the officials, instead deflecting criticism. His demeanor reportedly included moments where he appeared to taunt or mock journalists with his responses. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions around officiating in Serie A and Spalletti's combative media style since taking charge at Juventus.
Chance analysis
Spalletti's refusal to publicly scapegoat officials marks a notable stance in a league where referee criticism from coaches is routine, and his pointed exchanges with reporters underline the prickly dynamic developing between the Juventus bench and the Italian press. For supporters, the takeaway is as much about tone-setting at Juve as it is about the specific incident — Spalletti is signaling he will absorb pressure rather than feed a controversy, even if it means sharpening his rhetoric toward the room asking the questions.
No material change for Juventus or Milan on the pitch; the story mainly reflects Spalletti's media approach and the club's messaging discipline after a contentious refereeing moment.