the italians gave him 5! » “Naive to the penalty banned by UEFA. Serious mistake, he is not an elite referee!”
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Friday, December 12, 2025, 11:00 AM / Updated Friday, December 12, 2025 11:03 AM
Istvan Kovacs (41 years old) had a bad night in Glasgow, his performance being harshly criticized in the Italian press, after Celtic – AS Roma 0-3, from the 6th stage of the Europa League group. The peninsular press criticized the shot from 11 meters very easily given to the hosts, but missed. “He fooled Engels' slide, making the wrong decision!”, accused Tuttosport.
AS Roma paraded in Celtic Park and prevailed against Scotland on a scoreless score. Istvan Kovacs, the talisman of the Giallorossi in the Conference League final in Tirana with Feyenoord (1-0) in 2021-2022, received low marks in all three sports newspapers in Italy, being criticized for the decisions taken in important phases of the game in Glasgow.
The sharpest comments were made by Corriere dello Sport, who gave the Romanian referee a 5: “Kovacs is wrong, easily awarding a penalty. From an Elite Class referee from the Champions League who is relegated to the Europa League you expect a top performance.
Corriere dello Sport: “'The ball doesn't lie', as they say in the NBA. Serious mistake on the penalty, Kovacs hit the crossbar!”
But that was not the case with Kovacs. The penalty kick he gave the hosts is not one of… UEFA. The naivety of Kovacs is equal to that of Hermoso, who in the last seconds before the break (slightly) pulls the arm of Engels, who has his back to the goal.
However, the referee's error is more seriousas Engels is clearly sliding on the wet ground rather than being pulled by the arm. The VAR must uphold the decision, but the football gods don't lie: “the ball doesn't lie”, as they say in the NBA. He broke it!”.
The same newspaper mentions the video assistant Cătălin Popa, who had no way of interfering with the shot from 11 meters. “A miracle was needed for the penalty awarded. Score 6.”
Iheanacho's disallowed goal is disallowed, clear offside on Engels' pass. More than easy (without VAR, seems prehistoric) to assess Bailey's offside position when served by Dybala
Corriere dello SportItalian daily
Gazzetta dello Sport charges a penalty denied to Roma!
The grade 5 was also awarded by Tuttosport, which characterized Istvan Kovacs as follows: “He is deceived by Engels and consequently award a penalty for what appears to be a very light foul. Wrong decision”.
And Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted the inappropriate choice to show the spot-kick in extra time of the first half in Roma's box, but also charged him with a possible penalty in Celtic's box:
“Soulé's holding in the box infuriated Gasperini. The two goals in the second half were rightly disallowed: without VAR, he would have made a mistake”.
The pink daily gave the same grade (5.5) to assistants Marica and Tunyogi. The former could raise the flag for the ofaid in which Iheanacho received the ball in Celtic's disallowed goal in the 64th minute.
If, after the penalty awarded in the Champions League by Felix Zwayer when Wirtz fell in Inter – Liverpool, the one dictated by Istvan Kovacs, who directed the last Champions League final, came, then we really have to worry
Eugenio Calvareseformer Italian referee
