cagliari’s sporting director, Nereo Bonato, expressed his frustration following the team’s loss to Lazio at the Olimpico. Bonato took issue with referee Ayroldi’s performance, particularly regarding a controversial penalty awarded to Lazio and the subsequent red cards shown to Yerry Mina and Michel Adopo.

“Our discontent isn’t solely about specific incidents, although the penalty decision is difficult to comprehend,” Bonato stated. “Even in the first half, the distribution of yellow cards seemed excessive. After the penalty in the second half, the situation deteriorated rapidly, and we were penalized by decisions that will affect our players’ availability for upcoming matches.”

Bonato emphasized that the club feels unfairly treated by the overall match management. “We believe it’s right to voice our concerns, albeit calmly. Referees need to be more level-headed in handling certain situations, as none of our players exhibited inappropriate behavior. Overall, there was a lack of balance in today’s officiating.”

Speaking on behalf of head coach Davide Nicola, who remained silent, Bonato praised the team’s performance despite the challenging circumstances. “It wasn’t easy to come to the Olimpico against a strong opponent like Lazio, but our players conducted themselves well, refusing to give up even when reduced to nine men,” he said.

Bonato concluded by expressing regret over the impact of the match’s events on Cagliari’s upcoming fixtures. “What happened tonight is particularly unfortunate considering the matches we have ahead of us,” he noted.

The defeat leaves Cagliari in a precarious position in the Serie A table, with the team now facing the additional challenge of player suspensions as they continue their fight against relegation.