Andrea Colombo: Who Is the Referee at the Center of the Controversy Following the Fiorentina-Juventus Match?

The Fiorentina-Juventus match continues to spark debate even after the final whistle. In addition to the 2-2 draw, the main talking point is the penalty that wasn’t called for the Bianconeri following Joao Mario’s handball. This decision has placed referee Andrea Colombo at the center of the controversy: the referee from Como did not deem the incident severe enough to award a penalty, and the VAR confirmed the call made on the field.

The incident occurred in the 79th minute of the match at the Franchi: following a shot by Kolo Muani, the ball entered the Fiorentina penalty area and struck Joao Mario’s left arm, which appeared to be outstretched from his body. The Bianconeri players immediately protested, demanding a penalty kick, but the referee let play continue. Not even the VAR room, where Aleandro Di Paolo was present, signaled for a review on the monitor. The lack of intervention fueled postgame discussions, with the Portuguese defender’s handball becoming one of the most controversial incidents of the day.

Andrea Colombo, born in Como in 1990, is one of the most promising referees in the Como AIA section and the Serie A and Serie B CAN. After a rapid rise through the amateur and youth ranks, he made his professional debut in Serie C in 2017. Thanks to excellent performances, he was permanently promoted to CAN A and B in 2021. His debut in Italy’s top flight took place on March 16, 2022, in the Torino vs. Venezia match.

Over the course of several seasons, he has established himself, going on to officiate high-profile matches, most notably the Milan derby in April 2024, which mathematically clinched the Scudetto for Inter. On January 1, 2024, he received the prestigious appointment as a FIFA international referee, making his European debut in UEFA competitions. He is considered one of the leading figures in the new generation of Italian referees.