Juventus still without a penalty: a new story without privilege

Juventus has not been awarded a single penalty in 11 Serie A matches this season, sparking debate over refereeing consistency.

Juventus has gone through 11 Serie A matchdays without receiving a penalty, a stat that has reignited discussion about refereeing standards in Italian football. The Bianconeri are not alone — Roma also sits at zero penalties — but the disparity is notable when compared to other top clubs: Lazio has been awarded three, Inter and Milan two each, and Como one.

The conversation intensified after Sunday's match against Fiorentina, when a handball by Joao Mario in the box went unpunished. Former Serie A referee Pierluigi Rocchi, now a DAZN commentator, argued it should have been a penalty: "The ball comes from a teammate, but the arm is wide and the fact he could have withdrawn it makes it a penalty."

Manager Luciano Spalletti acknowledged it was a questionable call but did not protest publicly.

Juventus has also been on the other side of controversial decisions. In the 1-1 draw with Milan, a potential foul by De Winter on Kolo Muani went uncalled before Milan scored. In Juve-Atalanta, a clear holding of Rowe by Kalulu in the box was ignored by both referee and VAR. Italian football is experiencing a period of refereeing uncertainty, with inconsistency in how VAR is deployed under different designators.