Milan coach believes VAR uses double standards after red card for Giménez's elbow

AC Milan’s last glimmer of hope for European football was extinguished under the floodlights of the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night.

A 3-1 defeat to AS Roma compounded by a controversial red card for Santiago Giménez sealed the Rossoneri’s fate: no silverware, no redemption, and no European football in the 2024/25 season. For a club with Milan’s tradition and ambition, it was a bitterly symbolic ending to a season that promised so much but ultimately delivered heartbreak.

The match began with tension in the air, both teams aware of the stakes involved. Roma were fighting to secure their place in Europe, while Milan were clinging to mathematical hope. However, it took only 20 minutes for the match to spiral out of Milan’s control. Santiago Giménez, signed with high expectations to become the new face of the attack, got involved in an off-the-ball clash with Roma captain Gianluca Mancini. Replays showed the Mexican striker planting his elbow into Mancini’s chest not a full swing, but deliberate enough to raise eyebrows.

VAR quickly intervened, and after a brief review, the referee showed Giménez a straight red card. Milan were down to ten men with over 70 minutes still to play, and from that moment on, their evening and their season began to unravel.

Roma, clinical and composed, took full advantage. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring shortly after the red card with a precise finish from the edge of the box. Tammy Abraham doubled the lead before halftime with a towering header, and though Rafael Leão pulled one back for Milan early in the second half to spark brief hope, it was quickly extinguished by Lorenzo Pellegrini’s well-taken goal that made it 3-1. The rest of the match was little more than damage control for Milan, whose body language betrayed a side already beaten both on the scoreboard and in spirit.

What truly ignited post-match fury wasn’t just the red card, but the context surrounding it. Head coach Sérgio Conceição, who only weeks ago was still chasing two potential trophies, didn’t hold back when addressing the media.

“It’s not even about whether it was a red card or not maybe it was. I haven’t reviewed it in detail,” he said. “But what’s impossible to understand is the lack of consistency. We had the same VAR and assistant VAR in the Coppa Italia final against Bologna. Back then, Sam Beukema did something identical to Matteo Gabbia, and those same officials didn’t even recommend a review. Not a foul, not a booking nothing. So what are we supposed to think?”

The defeat Milan’s third in their last four matches also marks a dramatic collapse in the season’s final stretch. Only days earlier, they lost the Coppa Italia final to Bologna in extra time, a match where they once again fell short of expectations despite boasting a squad full of talent and experience. Conceição, clearly disillusioned, lamented how quickly everything had fallen apart.

“We were fighting for a place in Europe not for pride, not for nothing games, but for something that means a lot to a club like this,” he said. “I’ll admit, we didn’t do enough in the cup final. But when these key decisions go against you in a crucial game like today, it’s very hard to take. It was already going to be tough against Roma away. When you’re down to ten men, it becomes nearly impossible.”

Mathematically, Milan’s fate was sealed after the final whistle. They can no longer catch Lazio, who hold sixth place in Serie A with a five-point advantage and only one round remaining. Under normal circumstances, seventh place would still offer a lifeline a route to the UEFA Conference League. But due to Bologna’s Coppa Italia triumph, which guarantees them a spot in the Europa League, the domino effect means seventh now becomes the Conference League place. And with Lazio out of reach, Milan can no longer claim it.

The final standings now mean Milan will finish eighth or lower outside all European competitions. For a club that lifted the Serie A title just three seasons ago, and who reached the Champions League semifinals last year, this downturn is both dramatic and deeply concerning.

The absence from Europe will have both sporting and financial consequences. Players like Rafael Leão, Mike Maignan, and Theo Hernández could attract attention from bigger clubs, and with no continental stage to offer, Milan may struggle to keep their key assets. Equally, any attempt to rebuild the squad will be complicated by a reduced budget and less appeal to top-tier targets.

Meanwhile, pressure will intensify on the club’s management and technical staff. Questions will be asked about squad planning, injuries, tactical decisions, and whether Conceição is still the right man to lead the project forward. While the Portuguese manager has earned respect for his honesty and energy, the lack of results in decisive matches has left fans and pundits divided on his future.

For now, the only certainty is that Milan’s season ends in bitter disappointment. From the early promise of title contention to a painful Coppa Italia final defeat, and finally to a collapse in the league, the campaign will be remembered not for what it achieved, but for what it failed to become.

The Rossoneri walk away with nothing no trophy, no European spot, and more questions than answers. For a club that prides itself on history, prestige, and winning mentality, this year has been a sharp reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football. The rebuild must begin immediately not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. Milan must find their identity again.

Until then, fans will be left wondering what could have been, and whether this season will serve as the wake-up call the club so clearly needs.