Referee from Verona vs Juventus Match Demoted to Serie B: Here’s What Happened

Just four matches into Serie A, refereeing mistakes are already causing significant discussions and leading to serious outcomes. Antonio Rapuano, the referee for the Verona vs Juventus match, has been demoted to Serie B for the rest of the season by AIA officials, and it appears he may remain there for some time.

As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rapuano’s officiating raised concerns, particularly regarding the incident with Orban, who hit Gatti in the face.

The actions of the Verona player were clearly reckless—the hit landed directly on the face, an area that is usually penalized strictly. This warranted a clear red card rather than the yellow that Rapuano issued. Even the VAR could not rectify this decision.