Referee Juan Luca Sacchi has been suspended for one match in Serie A for failing to shake hands with his female assistant before the match between Lecce and Sassuolo.
It produced painful images, but Francesca Di Monte – the assistant referee – speaks of a misunderstanding.
Referee Juan Luca Sacchi will be suspended for a round after he refused to shake the hand of his assistant Di Monti before the match between Lecce and Sassuolo.
pic.twitter.com/s3DZ65tE4f— Italian Football News ???? (@footitalia1) October 8, 2023
Sacchi arrived fairly late in the players’ tunnel on Friday evening and then shook hands with the Sassuolo captain. He then ignored Di Monte’s outstretched hand to shake the Lecce captain’s hand.
Sacchi also did not shake hands with his male colleague in the players’ tunnel. Once he arrived on the field, Sacchi shook hands with both his assistants.
However, images of the painful moment were already circulating on social media, resulting in angry reactions. Sacchi was accused of sexism and had to report to referee boss Gianluca Rocchi.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Di Monte stood up to Rocchi for her colleague and that she stated that there was no sexism. Sacchi, in his haste, would have been surprised that Di Monte extended her hand.
However, Rocchi was unrelenting and suspended Sacchi for one match. The referee boss believes that referees should always remain polite and according to him that was not the case now.