Gian Piero Gasperini Criticizes VAR Freeze-Frame After Donyell Malen's Controversial Red Card
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed strong frustration following the sending off of Donyell Malen during their goalless draw against Como at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. The Italian manager condemned the use of VAR freeze-frames, arguing that they misrepresent moments and spoil the flow of football.
Red Card Sparks Controversy
The dismissal in the 53rd minute reduced Roma to ten men for nearly forty minutes, forcing a tactical shift in what had been an open match. Gasperini refused to accept the idea that Malen acted with intent to harm, highlighting the fouls his forward endured prior to the challenge on Kaiki.
"We were forced to defend ourselves after the red card. Malen was repeatedly fouled before the tackle," Gasperini said with frustration.
Freeze-Frame Replays Distort Reality
Presented with video replays of the incident, Gasperini criticized referees for relying too heavily on static images to judge fast-paced physical contact. He insisted Malen wasn’t playing violently but was instead held back and caught in momentum.
"The jump was ugly, but there was no intent to inflict any damage. It was definitely an incident that ruined the match," he said."There is no point in freezing the frame; football is not made up of frames. You can justify everything this way, but the concept matters. Stop with the frames because they distort reality."
Pride in Team’s Defensive Strength
Despite his anger over the officiating, Gasperini acknowledged his team’s resilience while down a player. Roma managed to hold Como at bay and secure Serie A’s first 0-0 draw of the season.
"Over 30 minutes of 90 minutes, you play with ten men against a strong team like Como, and it is disappointing," Gasperini admitted."I don’t know how it would have ended with 11 men, but we were confident. A draw in these conditions is fine."
Looking Ahead
Having withstood intense pressure late in the match from a six-man Como attack, Roma leave Lombardy with a valuable point that helps maintain their momentum in Serie A. Gasperini remains optimistic about the squad’s development despite dropping two points.
The club will soon assess the length of Malen’s suspension before their next league match, expecting the team to show the same defensive determination going forward.
- Match: Como 0 - 0 Roma
- Date: 11 October 2026
- Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia
- Red Card: Donyell Malen (53rd minute)
