Lazio File Official Protest But Referees Uphold Udinese Equalizer

Lazio have formally escalated their protest following the controversial draw against Udinese. After being held to a 1-1 result on Saturday night, the Biancoceleste sent an official letter of complaint to Lega Serie A, citing what they describe as repeated refereeing errors that have penalized the club in recent weeks.

The incident at the center of the dispute is the late equalizer scored by Keinan Davis, which Lazio believe should have been disallowed for handball. The frustration was such that Lazio chose not to send any representatives to speak to the media after the final whistle, a clear sign of their dissatisfaction with the officiating.

Despite the club’s strong stance, Lazio’s appeal appears unlikely to change the outcome. According to Sport Mediaset, the AIA has decided to back the match officials and considers the goal valid under the current interpretation of the rules.

Further clarification is expected during the next episode of Open VAR, the DAZN Italia program dedicated to reviewing refereeing decisions. Audio and video recordings of the referees’ on field discussion during the incident will be released, with officials expected to explain why VAR did not intervene.

The referees’ position is based on the timing of the incident. Davis’ handball occurred approximately nine seconds before the goal, and according to the officials, the passage of play continued beyond the immediate phase. Under the updated interpretation of the laws introduced this season, a handball does not automatically invalidate a goal if there are subsequent touches or actions before the ball ends up in the net.

Lazio contest this reading of the situation, arguing that no other player had meaningful control of the ball after it struck Davis’ arm. In their view, the question of intent should be irrelevant, as the handball directly influenced the development of the action that led to the goal.

The referees, however, are expected to reiterate that the current regulations require a more direct and immediate connection between the handball and the goal for VAR to intervene. As a result, the decision to allow Udinese’s equalizer is set to stand.

For Lazio, the sense of injustice remains strong, but the response from the refereeing authorities suggests that their protest will not lead to any retrospective changes. The episode adds another chapter to a season already marked by tension between the Biancoceleste and match officials, with the debate now shifting from the pitch to the television studio.