Fiorentina file: Lazio 1 Fiorentina 1

I always look for an angle that might interest our readers and today’s is the video replay now in constant use in in serie a. Both Alan Tanner and Ivan Conway were incensed by referees not awarding penalties in their team’s games v Derby and Stoke. Yesterday in the Olimpico Fiorentina were pressing hard for an equaliser, Pessella was fouled in the penalty area but the referee did  not award it. Pessella then very nearly scored from an overhead kick. When the attack finally ceased the referee went to the monitor, examined the replay and awarded the penalty. Babacar converted this in the 93rd minute. Although justice was done, what would have happened if Fiorentina had scored from the overhead kick? Unlikely he would still re-examine the video. The monitor is by the dug out. Could the referee resist the aggression of the coaches on the bench or hostile home fans? Food for thought.