Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as suggested that goalkeepers are unfairly penalised by the media.
The Bianconeri custodian has come under the spotlight on a number of occasions this season, with some suggesting he is well past his best.
“There is a knowledge gap with respect to the goalkeeper’s role,” he told Corrire dello Sport.
“Some comments infuriate me or make me laugh depending on how I wake up on the morning.
“When journalists speak about a goalkeeping mistake they should explain exactly what the mistake was, otherwise they condition the viewer.
“Players are not forgiven for mistakes, the same should happen for journalists.
“In truth, I hear a lot of nonsense. Thankfully, once in a while [former Lazio goalkeeper Luca] Marchegiani [who now works as a pundit] will take the time and explain specific dynamics.”
As well as the media, Buffon also found time to address some other factors which make life more difficult for goalkeepers.
“Coaches don’t employ enough time to the technical aspect, including those of goalkeeping,” he continued.
“The new balls don’t help either: they’re designed to have unnatural trajectories.
“Finally, the ‘last man’ rule is inhumane: at the beginning of my career coming out low on a 1-on-1 was one of my calling cards, but over the years I have been forced to phase it out because of the risk of being sent off.
“Perhaps the red card could be given if such a foul is committed in the last 20 minutes of a match, and a yellow if committed earlier.”
