Why Kalulu did not receive a red card in Juventus-Bologna

Refereeing expert Luca Marelli explains the one crucial detail that saved Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu from a red card against Bologna.

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The incident occurred at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at the 26th minute when Jens Odgaard ran onto the long ball and had his heels clipped by Kalulu just outside the penalty area.

Referee Matteo Marchetti waved play on, but play was halted for a couple of minutes while VAR checked the footage.

While we have seen red cards given this season even when the two players simply crossed paths rather than one intentionally fouling another in these situations, there was one crucial detail that saved Kalulu.

What saved Kalulu from red card in Juventus-Bologna

According to DAZN refereeing expert and former official Marelli, VAR could not intervene for a straight red card because there was one element missing from the DOGSO ruling (Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity).

Odgaard was running towards the ball, but did not have it under his control and Mattia Perin was ready to gather.

“It is a situation very similar to the Tijjani Reijnders red card in Milan-Udinese, but in that situation the referee made the decision and VAR could not change it,” explained Marelli on DAZN.

“In this case, I believe it is right not to send Kalulu off because there is one element missing for it to be a DOGSO situation, the Bologna player does not have control of the ball.

“Perin had the advantage and would’ve got to it first.”