A late goal by Parma’s Mariano Troilo sparked controversy and lengthy review in their 1-0 Serie A victory over AC Milan at the San Siro on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute from a corner kick. Troilo rose above Milan defender Davide Bartesaghi and headed the ball past goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The initial ruling by the on-field referee was met with immediate protest from Milan players, who argued for a foul on Maignan and a potential infringement in the build-up.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) initiated a prolonged review, examining potential contact between Parma’s Lautaro Valenti and Maignan, as well as the challenge between Troilo and Bartesaghi. The goal was allowed to stand, with VAR determining that while Valenti did impede Maignan’s movement, no clear and obvious illegal contact occurred.
Former Serie A referee Luca Marelli, serving as a referee analyst for DAZN, offered a detailed assessment of the incident. He agreed with former Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini that the contact between Troilo and Bartesaghi was within the rules, noting that Bartesaghi “buckled under only slight pressure” while Troilo “jumped largely unimpeded.” However, Marelli was critical of Valenti’s block on Maignan, stating that it constituted a clear obstruction under Rule 12 of the Laws of the Game. “In terms of the regulations, this goal should not have stood,” Marelli said, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
Despite the regulatory concerns, Marelli also criticized the VAR process itself, suggesting the incident should not have required an on-field review.
Milan assistant coach Marco Landucci, who was overseeing the team in place of the absent Allegri, expressed his disappointment following the match. “We clearly feel unlucky,” Landucci stated. “Parma played very well and the ball just didn’t want to go in for us tonight. We really wanted those three points, so of course we are very disappointed.”
Landucci also confirmed that Milan’s Loftus-Cheek sustained a facial injury, including a laceration and dental damage, during a collision early in the game, adding to a demanding evening for the Rossoneri.
The incident is likely to fuel further debate over the application of VAR in Serie A, following similar controversies in recent matches, including Inter-Juve. No immediate statement has been released by the Serie A officiating body regarding the incident or the VAR review process.
