Gian Piero Gasperini Criticizes VAR After Donyell Malen's Controversial Red Card in Roma's Draw at Como

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed strong frustration after the sending off of forward Donyell Malen during their goalless draw at Como. The Italian manager sharply criticized the use of freeze-frame replays, arguing they distort what actually happens on the pitch.

Disagreement Over Malen's Sending Off

The red card came in the 53rd minute at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, forcing Roma to play with ten men for nearly forty minutes. This change compelled a shift to a more defensive approach in an otherwise open match. Gasperini rejected the idea that Malen acted with malicious intent and pointed out that the Dutch forward had been fouled several times before the tackle on Kaiki.

"We were forced to defend ourselves after the red card. Malen was repeatedly fouled before the tackle," Gasperini said.

Criticism of VAR and Freeze-Frame Replays

When shown video clips of the incident, Gasperini criticized officials for using slow-motion images to judge high-speed physical contact. He said it’s hard to believe Malen was playing violently because he was being held back and had momentum going into the challenge.

"The jump was ugly, but there was no intent to inflict any damage. It was definitely an incident that ruined the match."

"There is no point in freezing the frame; football isn’t made up of frames. You can justify anything this way, but the concept matters. Stop with the frames because they distort reality."

Respect for Team’s Resilience Despite Adversity

Even while upset about the refereeing decisions, Gasperini praised his squad for adapting well to the disadvantage against Como. Roma managed to hold on for a 0-0 result, the first goalless draw of the Serie A season.

"Playing over 30 minutes with ten men against a strong team like Como is disappointing," Gasperini noted. "I don’t know how it would have ended with 11 men, but we were confident. A draw under these circumstances is acceptable."

Looking Ahead

Roma survived intense pressure late in the match as Como pushed with six attackers. They leave Lombardy with a valuable point to keep their domestic form steady. Gasperini remains hopeful about his squad’s progress despite dropping two points.

The club will soon assess Malen's suspension and plan accordingly for their next Serie A fixture. Gasperini expects his players to maintain the same defensive determination in future games.

• Upcoming Matches:
• Champions League: Feyenoord vs Roma – 14 Oct 2026, 22:00
• Serie A: Real Madrid vs Roma – 14 Oct 2026, 22:00