Football Italia’s transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà examines referee controversies from Torino-Cremonese and Parma-Lazio and criticises the reported proposal to reschedule a big game from Round 30 by just 45 minutes.
Cremonese were not given a penalty kick despite a clear Simeone handball, a kind of incident that previously led to opposite decisions from the referee and VAR.
PARMA, ITALY – DECEMBER 13: Valentin Castellanos of SS Lazio kiks the ball during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and SS Lazio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on December 13, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
“They need to explain how this works, because it can’t go on like this,” Pedullà said.
“VAR unplagged itself and decided not to intervene; that’s not a penalty! So they need to guide us on all the other situations that, in the same circumstances, should not be penalties either.”
The Italian pundit also praised Cremonese coach Davide Nicola for the sportsmanship shown in post-match interviews.
Pedullà also criticised the latest proposal, which appeared in the Italian media, to potentially postpone a big game of Round 30 by just 45 minutes in order to give Gennaro Gattuso more rested players for the World Cup play-off in March.
Torino celebrated their first win in over two months by seeing off Cremonese thanks to the Nikola Vlasic strike, but there were penalty appeals in stoppages.
The Granata were in crisis after three consecutive defeats, hovering just above the drop zone and without a win in six rounds, and sacking director of sport Davide Vagnati. Giovanni Simeone, Ardian Ismajli and Adrien Tameze were back in the squad, leaving only long-term absentees Perr Schuurs and Zanos Savva. Cremonese were buzzing after back-to-back wins over Bologna and Lecce, sending them into the top 10. Jeremy Sarmiento, Francesco Folino, Alberto Grassi, Mikayil Faye and Michele Collocolo missed the trip, then Matteo Bianchetti pulled out in the warm-up with a nosebleed.
TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 13: Federico Bonazzoli of US Cremonese is challenged by Nikola Vlasić of Torino FC during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Cremonese at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on December 13, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Diego Puletto/Getty Images)
Federico Ceccherini’s header from a corner was well smothered, but Emil Audero needed a great save getting down one-handed to keep out the powerful Che Adams angled drive.
Toro opened the scoring when Duvan Zapata controlled a cross from the left with his back to goal and turned, but in trying to intercept, Federico Baschirotto just knocked it down for Nikola Vlasic to smash in from 10 yards.
Cremonese responded immediately, Alberto Paleari forced into a tricky save on Federico Bonazzoli’s acrobatic chest and bicycle-kick. Moments later, Jamie Vardy drew out the goalkeeper, but couldn’t keep it in play after springing the offside trap.
TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 13: Marcus Pedersen of Torino FC is challenged by Jamie Vardy of US Cremonese during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Cremonese at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on December 13, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Diego Puletto/Getty Images)
Toro continued to create the best chances after the restart, Adams stinging Audero’s gloves, while at the other end Ceccherini’s strike was straight at Paleari.
Romano Floriani Mussolini got back for a decisive block on the Marcus Pedersen counter-attack, but Cremonese wasted a golden opportunity to equalise on 80 minutes.
Vardy sprung the offside trap down the left and rolled across only for Faris Moumbagna to fire over as he came sliding in at the back post.
TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 13: Valentino Lazaro of Torino FC is challenged by Martín Payero of US Cremonese during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Cremonese at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on December 13, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Diego Puletto/Getty Images)
Adams could also have sealed it for Torino, cutting inside Federico Baschirotto to bend a right-foot finish inches past the far post.
Simeone stung Audero’s gloves from a tricky angle too, but there was controversy deep into stoppages when Simeone controlled the Alessio Zerbin free kick with his shoulder and it ricocheted onto the arm. VAR had a silent check, but ultimately decided not to suggest an On-Field Review for a Cremonese penalty.
Check out the probable line-ups and latest team news for Saturday’s three Serie A matches: Torino vs. Cremonese, Parma vs. Lazio and Atalanta vs. Cagliari.
Today, Saturday, December 13, there are three more matches: Torino vs. Cremonese at 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT), Parma vs. Lazio at 18:00 CET and Atalanta vs. Cagliari at 20:45 CET.
CREMONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Jamie Vardy of US Cremonese celebrates after scoring the 1-2 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Juventus FC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on November 01, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 31: Valentin Castellanos of Lazio celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Olimpico on August 31, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Watch on TV: DAZN in the UK and Ireland, Paramount+ in the USA
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC at Stadio di Bergamo on December 09, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Atalanta vs. Cagliari
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca.
English striker Vardy has become the first Englishman to be named Player of the Month in Serie A.
Vardy named as best Serie A player in November
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Jamie Vardy of Cremonese reacts during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Cremonese at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 01, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“The EA SPORTS FC Player Of The Month award for November has been assigned to Cremonese player Jamie Vardy. The fans’ votes online, combined with individual statistical data, determined Jamie Vardy as the winner, beating champions like Maignan (Milan), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Neres (Napoli), Ostigard (Genoa), Zaniolo (Udinese),” Lega Serie A said in a statement on Thursday.
“The six best players of the month have been selected, taking into account the advanced analysis of Kama Sport, created from the tracking data recorded with the Hawk-Eye system. The rating system considers not only statistical data and technical events, but also positional data. This makes it possible to analyse crucial aspects such as movement without the ball and thus optimal movements, game choices, and the contribution to the technical and physical efficiency of the team, which allow for an objective and qualitative evaluation of the performance.
CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Jamie Vardy of US Cremonese celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 25, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said: “Jamie Vardy is truly a player from another era. One of those talents who, with their history, their achievements and the indomitable spirit with which they live every match, best express the romance of football. His arrival at Cremonese, who were quick to seize the opportunity this summer, was greeted with great enthusiasm by all Serie A fans, and Vardy is repaying them with top-level performances, innate leadership and important goals, the result of the competitive spirit and shooting skills that have always distinguished him”.
Udinese director Gökhan Inler feels Nicolò Zaniolo is on the right path towards a return to the Italy national team and describes his former Leicester City teammate Jamie Vardy as a ‘crazy guy’ and ‘ great leader.’
Udinese director Inler believes Italy should give Zaniolo another chance in 2026, when the Azzurri will play in the World Cup play-off.
“Before Nicolo came to us, we had a conversation with him and the coach together to convince him to join the project. He also said he wanted to rebuild his career as he had some issues with injuries,” Inler told the Italian Football Podcast.
“He believes that he can give something back to the national team. Since he came here, he has worked really hard, he is working really hard. He is an emotional guy, he needs this, but he is really working really hard. So far, very positive guy.
Zaniolo: Zaniolo should get Italy call-up
PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 29: Nicolò Zaniolo of Udinese Calcio looks on during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 29, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“He is also a very strong player. You also saw him in England; he has quality. And of course, in my opinion, now that he is scoring goals, he is really getting there where the national team needs him. I think the next call-up, the national team should call him.”
Udinese signed Zaniolo on loan with an option to buy from Galatasaray last summer, and the Italian has scored four goals in 12 Serie A appearances with Udinese this season.
Another Udinese player, Oumar Solet, is delivering convincing performances in Udine, attracting interest from top clubs, according to reports.
“Oumar is an amazing player. He has already experienced the Champions League. He is a great personality. On the pitch, you see he can change the game himself,” Inler said.
“You remember that goal against Inter where he started driving the ball from behind, he started and he shot. He is really an important transfer for us. Let’s say we were a bit lucky when we signed him. He had some issues. We prepared him for some months here at Udine to get fit.
“It was not easy, four months of training without playing in a competition. I remember his first game, it was, I think, in January, his first game was against Verona, from 0 to 100, and after this game, all of Serie A was talking about him.
“That’s why I think we did a great job mentally and also physically. I hope he stays with us for a long time, but of course, as I said before, great players always have opportunities; however, we are here to build a great Udinese.”
A former Switzerland international, Inler won the Premier League title with Leicester City in 2015-16, playing alongside Vardy, now at Cremonese.
Inler: ‘Amazing’ Vardy
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Jamie Vardy of Cremonese acknowledges the fans as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Cremonese at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 01, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“Jamie is amazing. Crazy guy, he knows that but he really is a great leader, respectful. Also, a great teammate, working a lot in this period for the dressing room,” Inler said.
“We went to his house for the celebration [when we won the Premier League]. Jamie was a crazy guy yes, RedBull before games, he was hyperactive, jumping left and right, shooting balls in the dressing room. In Italy, you never see this, music at high volume, it was like a disco [laughs].
“But in the games, you saw, he explodes, he runs left, right, shoots everywhere. Also, now, I met him with Cremonese. He is still the same. You saw he scored two goals against Bologna last week.
“Also, he had difficulties before he became a champion. He respected the rules, he made a great career. We are still in touch, he is a great player, and I am proud to have played with a nice and crazy guy.”
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