After the Inter vs Juventus Match .. Death Threats Force Referee to Stay Home
In a controversial development, the Italian police requested referee Federico La Penna to stay at home after receiving death threats via social media following the "Derby d'Italia" match between Inter and Juventus.
The match, which took place on Saturday, February 15, 2026, ended with Inter winning 3-2 in an exciting game filled with tensions that quickly turned into crises on online platforms.
The most controversial moment came when the referee decided to send off Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu in the 42nd minute after receiving a second yellow card for an unclear foul against Alessandro Bastoni.
This decision, which Juventus officials deemed unjustified, sparked widespread anger among fans and led to escalating criticism on social media against referee La Penna, who received death threats from some supporters.
Following the match, Juventus players pressured the referee to review the footage via Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but the system was not available at the time.
Days after the incident, a wave of insults against the referee erupted online, including explicit death threats, along with similar insults directed at Alessandro Bastoni, who was accused by Juventus fans of diving to celebrate the red card.
For his part, Gianluca Rocchi, head of the Italian Referees Committee, issued a formal apology for the officiating error that occurred in the match, acknowledging that it was an inaccurate assessment.
Despite the apology, the anger continued to escalate on social media platforms.
The Italian police, to ensure the referee's safety, requested La Penna to stay at home, raising widespread questions about the impact of crowd tension on the personal safety of those involved in sports.
This incident highlights the influence of social media in football and the potentially serious personal repercussions that can arise from controversial officiating decisions.
