VAR transcript reveals how bizarre no-penalty decision was reached in Milan-Bologna

The full transcript of the conversation that took place between the referee and the VAR room during AC Milan’s win over Bologna has been made available.

The first episode of the season of ‘Open VAR’ was broadcast on DAZN, and as MilanNews report it immediately provided some transparency regarding what happened one of the most controversial incidents in recent memory.

The full transcript has been relayed between the referee Marcenaro, VAR assistants Fabbri and Paterna and the fourth official Rapuano. It of course concerns the decision to award and then revoke a spot kick when Christopher Nkunku went down inside the box minutes from the end.

What emerges from the broadcast is, first of all, a total and unjustified disregard for Lucumi’s first tackle on Nkunku, which not only deserved a penalty but also possibly a red card.

Secondly, it is clear that VAR Fabbri pushed for the penalty to be revoked for the contact between Freuler and Nkunku. This is another questionable choice given that Freuler didn’t kick Nkunku directly but instead stepped on him, effectively tripping him up, as all the footage demonstrates.

🤔 Penalty or no penalty?pic.twitter.com/SkryNGtyLi

— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) September 14, 2025

The full transcript

Marcenaro (on first contact Lucumi-Nkunku): “For me nothing.”

[Check from the VAR Room on Nkunku’s onside position and control, both clearly fine.]

Fabbri (on the first contact between Lucumi and Nkunku): “He lets it go here… the next one whistled.”

Fabbri (on the Freuler-Nkunku contact): “Where does he get it? (Referring to Freuler) No, he has a steady foot though. He has a steady foot and even touches the ball with his leg: it’s the attacker who gets it. (Then turning to Paterna) If I show you Lucumi’s one first on Nkunku, what do you think?”

Paterna: “Then he spreads his leg, Nkunku… But it’s nothing: because here it’s the attacker who’s looking for it.”

Fabbri: “Yes, he’s widening it, I agree with you too. Let’s go to the next one [the footage returns to the Freuler-Nkunku contact] and look for some good cameras, because in my opinion it’s not a penalty, what do you think? Because he has his foot on the ground and never takes it.”

Paterna: “I agree.”

Fabbri: “I want another camera, this one. [On Freuler] He already has his foot on the ground and it’s him [Nkunku] who kicks it. What do you think?”

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Paterna: “Yes, I agree, it’s more the attacker who goes towards… You see…”

Fabbri, addressing Marcenaro: “I would show you Matteo again because the defender has his foot on the ground and it is Nkunku who, by putting his foot on the ground, kicks it.”

[Marcenaro arrives at the monitor]

Fabbri to Marcenaro: “Look, he [Freuler] has his foot on the ground and it’s Nkunku who then kicks it.”

Marcenaro: “Excuse me, Michael [Fabbri], isn’t that also the number 8 [Freuler] going towards him?”

Fabbri: “But he has his foot on the ground, he has his foot on the ground: Freuler does nothing. He has his foot planted on the ground.”

[Marcenaro steps away from the monitor and announces the penalty has been revoked.]

Rapuano to Marcenaro: “Marce, Matteo [Marcenaro]: red for Allegri, red for Allegri, red for Allegri.”