Torino Chief Makes Bold Claim

Torino president Urbano Cairo has criticised the officials and the use of VAR during his side’s 1-1 draw with Cagliari on Sunday. Walter Mazzarri’s side had been leading the match at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino thanks to a strike from Simone Zaza early in the second half, but the forward was then sent-off for allegedly swearing at the official with less than 20 minutes remaining.

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Leonardo Pavoletti went on to head home an equaliser for Cagliari, although that goal was initially ruled out for offside until the interjection of VAR. Torino also felt they should have been awarded a penalty during the match and Cairo held nothing back when asked about his thoughts on the game.

“They only go to VAR to punish us,” the president said. “The referee was unfair and biased, if you send a player off for swearing then you will always finish the game with 10 men.” The draw has dented Torino’s hopes of qualifying for Europe next season as they remain seventh in the division, two points off sixth-place Atalanta and five back from AC Milan in fourth.

Cairo says Torino will keep fighting to earn a place in Europe, although he feels there is an agenda against his side – his suggestion being that the powers at be would prefer to see teams like Milan finish in the top six. He added: “We’ll be more determined next time. We won’t give up. I don’t want to say that they want to send Milan to Europe over us, but look at the games played today and yesterday.”