Pierre Kalulu sees red, while behind him the real culprit, Alessandro Bastoni, celebrates. © APA/afp / PIERO CRUCIATTI

All of Italian football is talking about this scene.

A blatant refereeing error occurred in the Derby d'Italia between Inter and Juventus on Saturday evening. Inter's home victory almost became a side issue.

February 14, 2026

From: cst

In the packed San Siro, it was the 42nd minute when referee Federico La Penna showed Juventus' Pierre Kalulu his second yellow card, resulting in a red card. The Juventus defender protested vehemently, and the slow-motion replay immediately showed why. Kalulu hadn't even touched Alessandro Bastoni, who was playing the dying swan.

However, because VAR is only allowed to intervene in cases of direct red cards, the unsportsmanlike conduct went unpunished, and La Penna's serious error stood. That said, a rule change has already been decided for the future. Referees will then also be able to consult video footage in cases of yellow-red cards. In this case, that would have meant: no card for Kalulu, but a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct for the Inter defender – who had already been cautioned and would therefore have been sent off.

After endless discussions, Pierre Kalulu had to leave the field. © APA/afp / PIERO CRUCIATTI

On the pitch: After a glaring error by Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, Inter took the lead through an own goal by Andrea Cambiaso (9'). Cambiaso equalized after 26 minutes. The second half was a wild affair. Inter pressed forward, but Juventus initially had the best chance. When that opportunity went begging, Pio Esposito put Milan ahead with a superb header, becoming Inter's second-youngest goalscorer (after Mario Balotelli) in an Italian derby.

Juventus came close again with a beautiful goal from Manuel Locatelli (83rd minute), but in the 90th minute Piotr Zielinski sealed the victory for Inter with a shot from 16 meters.

Serie A: Saturday's results

Inter – Juventus 3-2
1:0 own goal Cambiaso (9th), 1:1 Cambiaso (26th), 2:1 Esposito (76th), 2:2 Locatelli (83rd), 3:2 Zielinski (90th)

Como – Fiorentina 1:2
0:1 Fagioli (26th minute), 0:2 Kean (54th minute/penalty), 1:2 Own goal Parisi (77th minute)

Lazio – Atalanta 0-2
0:1 Ederson (41st/penalty), 0:2 Zalewski (60th)