Italian sports papers say Douglas Luiz was lucky to avoid a red card in Juventus-Lazio, while new footage shows the Brazilian midfielder hit Patric on the back with his arm.
Lazio director Angelo Maria Fabiani fumed at referee and VAR on Saturday, saying that Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz should have been sent off for punching Patric in the second half.
Italian media insist Douglas Luiz risked red card, but new footage emerges
The referee did not review the incident on a pitchside monitor as, according to DAZN pundit Luca Marelli, VAR didn’t consider it violent conduct.
Nevertheless, Marelli and Italian sports papers, including Corriere dello Sport, suggest Douglas Luiz probably deserved a red card for deliberately hitting an opponent with the ball far away.
At the same time, Juventus fans argue that Douglas Luiz was not punishable for violent conduct given that he hit Patric on his back and that the Lazio defender fell down a bit too easily, as shown in a video that emerged on social media hours after the game.
⚪️⚫️ @juventusfc | @Chiariello_CS: “I riflettori vanno puntati invece su Juventus-Lazio: se è giusta l’espulsione di Romagnoli, clamoroso è stato non buttare fuori Douglas Luiz per pugno a Patric. Questo è scandaloso”.
