Should Handanovic have seen red for Inter?

There was controversy on the stroke of half-time, with Sassuolo calling for Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to be sent off for a coming together with Gregoire Defrel.

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It was the final move of the half at the Mapei Stadium, with the Neroverdi 1-0 up through a Domenico Berardi penalty.

Defrel pounced on a poor Stefan de Vrij back-pass and ran forward, getting to the ball and flicking it to the right.

That was also where Handanovic was already running, having realised he’d rushed off his line too late to cut the striker off.

They briefly connected with the trailing Handanovic arm, which was raised to show he was getting out of the way.

The referee and VAR opted to wave play on, so there was no review, red card or foul given.

It is arguable that Defrel flicked it to the right, which was where Handanovic was already running, whereas if he had moved the ball to his left, it would’ve sent him clear and any contact more obviously a foul.

La domanda è: perché handanovic che non cerca la palla, si ostacola l avversario con una gomitata, e con il piede sinistro cerca di scammbettarlo colpendolo al ginocchio, ma poi? Perché si butta a terra? #SassuoloInter pic.twitter.com/oKnJfgtNva

— Mitch Pal (@Mitch_Pal) October 2, 2021