Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Monday, January 26, 2026, 7:26 p.m. / Updated Monday, January 26, 2026, 7:28 p.m.
The thriller in Genoa sparked many discussions, not only because of the incredible turn of events, Bologna being turned from 2-0 to 2-3, but also because of a phase that broke the balance of the game. Lukasz Skorupski fouled outside the box and Fabio Maresca gave him a straight red card. The decision was approved by UEFA, but the Italians will suspend the referee who gave Genoa the numerical advantage.
Bologna were leading 2-0 after Ferguson's goal and Otoa's own goal, but the Polish goalkeeper's dismissal turned the tide of the match from Luigi Ferraris. The 34-year-old goalkeeper made a mistake trying to pass and then fouled a Bologna opponent, Vitinha, well outside the box.
UEFA: “Our interpretation is that it should only be a yellow card, but Maresca's decision is not wrong either”
Fabio Maresca red-carded him and confirmed the sending-off after watching replays on VAR referral, despite protests from Vincenzo Italiano's players. With a man down, Daniele De Rossi's team scored three times, through Malinovskyi (62), from a free kick, Ekuban (78) and Junior Messias (90+1).
Lukasz Skorupski, returned to Bologna after the injury, was eliminated with Genoa, after he had also blundered on Thursday in the Europa League, in the match against Celtic / Photo: Imago
The decision of the “central” caused great controversy in the broadcasts of analysis of the stage on televisions in Italy, and today it was announced that Maresca will be stopped from delegations. Serie A refereeing bosses considers that he was wrong and that he should only have given him a warning, contrary to the verdict given by UEFA for such a phase.
Present in the studio of Sky's Pressing show, former referee Graziano Cesari opined that “Skorupski's elimination is a new, special case. For UEFA, it is a borderline situation. For these situations, I say “we will give you our interpretation, which is that it should only be a yellow card, but Maresca's decision is not wrong either”.
AIA: “Elimination is an excessive and unfair penalty because at least three parameters of the DOGSO rule are missing”
Maresca ruled it was DOGSO (preventing an imminent goal situation) and therefore issued the red card after Skorupski brought down Vitinha. Maresca appealed to VAR, but did not change his decision.
Lukasz Skorupski, returned to Bologna after the injury, was eliminated with Genoa, after he had also blundered on Thursday in the Europa League, in the match against Celtic / Photo: Imago
That's because there was no one between the goal posts, and Vitinha was 37 meters from the goal line. The last defender was 17 meters from the goal. That's how Moreo scored in the match with Inter”.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the referee's decision is considered by the AIA (Italian Referees' Association) to be an exaggerated and incorrect sanction, as at least three parameters of the DOGSP (red card for clear scoring opportunity) rule are missing for removal: 1. Absence of defenders (there are four); 2. Clear possession and 3. Short distance.
