Week 22 of the Serie A season saw Cagliari take a very important step towards safety, as they recorded their first victory of the calendar year by edging out a talented Fiorentina side 1-0 at the Stadio Sant’Elia.
Losses to Atalanta and AC Milan in the previous two rounds had fuelled the Sardi with a real sense of injustice – they had failed to earn the spoils which they felt their performances deserved, and they battled against a weakened Gigliati with a dogged determination, managing to keep them at bay for more than 90 minutes to achieve a merited victory.
Everybody must have been hoping for an immediate upturn in fortunes following such a positive result, much like what happened after the 2-1 success against Torino in November, which signalled not only the end to a stretch of 10 games with only one win, but also the beginning of a seven match unbeaten run that lasted until just after the turn of the year.
However, the travelling Rossoblu fans were to leave the Stadio Luigi Ferraris disappointed on Sunday afternoon, and perhaps justifiably aggrieved that their team hadn’t taken something from the game, with the match-winner sporting neither the blue of Sampdoria, nor the red and blue of Cagliari, but rather the luminous yellow and black of the referee’s uniform.
Match official Diego Roca was the star of the show, and his florescent shirt stood out almost as much as his questionable refereeing decisions, during what was a performance which all too often unfairly penalised the Isolani.
Perhaps we should be more lenient on 33-year-old Roca, who usually officiates in Serie B and was only making his second appearance as a referee in the Italian top flight, having made his debut on the final match day of the 2012-13 campaign – an encounter in which there was nothing to play for between already-relegated Palermo, and a Parma side which was resigned to mid-table mediocrity, with the game ending 3-1 in the Crociati’s favour.
Though it may not have been his inexperience which proved to be so costly for the visitors as much as the lack of support he received in making his decisions – in real time, it is very difficult to judge if a player is in an offside position, and there are always likely to be mistakes made, even with the inclusion of assistant referees and linesmen, so in this age of technology it’s important that these key decisions be subject to TV examination, a sentiment echoed by Sardi sporting director Nicola Salerno after the game.
“These are unacceptable errors which falsify matches, a goal and a penalty weren’t given,” he said. “They can field as many referees as they want, but these are shocking errors, and even if I believe that they aren’t deliberate, in 2014, TV evidence is necessary.”
This will unlikely appease the Rossoblu faithful however, and questions will undoubtedly be asked about the standard of refereeing, and in a match with as much at stake as there was on Sunday, a cool head is called for, someone who remains unswayed and unbiased in the face of the passionate home support and an intimidating atmosphere – one which Roca had never come across in his time as a match official.
The Foggia native was evidently underprepared to manage such pressures, as he lacked presence, and was too-easily influenced, regularly whistling and awarding fouls based on the roar of the crowd or the demands of the Doria players – admittedly the game was a dour affair aside from the Blucerchiati’s goal, but the official didn’t help matters by awarding nine yellow cards (five of those to Cagliari), the second-most bookings he has made during a single match in his short career thus far.
Aside from this however, Roca made two very noteworthy errors which went against the Rossoblu, with one being committed either side of the interval.
The first occurred in the 19th minute, as captain Daniele Conti stepped up to take a free-kick outside the box on the right – the veteran lofted in a beautiful ball to Marco Sau inside the area, and the striker chested it down for himself brilliantly, and finished well with a right-footed volley into the top left corner of the net. What was meant to be a wonderfully crafted goal was unfairly chalked off for offside, with replays suggesting that Sau’s strike should have stood.
The second incident, also involving Sau, took place in the 67th minute – the Sardi native raced into the box, closely followed by debutant Michele Fornasier, and was all ready to spin and shoot before the Doria defender hauled him down with his left arm, something which the referee inexplicably dismissed as he waved play on.
There was a growing sense of unrest and irritability in the Cagliari ranks, and the tension boiled over towards the end, as Conti went in for a dangerous challenge on Lorenzo De Silverstri, and was booked for a scuffle with Manolo Gabbiadini minutes later, with the absence of a commanding and unifying official being highlighted once again.
Of course it’s difficult to focus on the positives when faced with this disappointment and frustration, however, there undoubtedly were some – Vlada Avmarov kept his side in the game on numerous occasions, and was unlucky to concede man of the match Daniele Gastaldello’s near-post header. Marco Sau led the line well for his hometown club, and aside from their momentary lapse for Doria’s goal, Nicola Murru, Davide Astori and Luca Rossettini defended admirably.
Off the field though, the most pressing news is the situation regarding the club’s ownership, with president Massimo Cellino’s company Eleonora Sport having purchased 75% controlling share in English Championship club Leeds United, subject to him passing the Football League’s ‘fit and proper person test’.
The fiery Sardi supremo recently confirmed via a series of late night SMS messages from the US that he would be selling his hometown club, putting an end to his 22 year association with the Isolani.
“For 22 years I dreamed of the impossible,” he wrote. “I am a poor romantic dreamer, excuse me if I didn’t succeed.
“I have practically sold Cagliari, and the buyers’ lawyers are securing the go-ahead from the authorities. They are good people but I’m worried they will baulk at our sad reality. Good night.”
Even though the buyers are as yet unknown, the Italian media is suggesting that they are linked to Barcelona sponsors, the Quatar foundation, with a number of Cagliari tifosi donning arabic head cloths during the clash against the Blucerchiati, adding weight to these claims.
Whatever becomes of the club though, the longer this saga rumbles on, the more it will serve to distract the players from the job at hand.
Follow Anthony Alborino on Twitter: @anthonyalborino
