Sarri calls for VAR to be abolished after penalty controversy as Juventus pile misery on Atalanta

Pierre Kalulu's shirt pull on Jonathan Rowe happened right in the Juventus box, yet the referee waved play on and VAR stayed silent. Atalanta coach Maurizio Sarri reacted with fury, saying that if VAR cannot intervene in such a situation, it should be abolished altogether. Juventus won 2-0 in Turin, with Francisco Conceicao scoring the opener. Atalanta have now lost three consecutive Serie A matches and sit 11th. Sarri's comments have reignited the VAR debate, but beneath the anger lies a deeper crisis of confidence and character. Three straight defeats have pushed Atalanta into a worrying spiral. Sarri criticized his team's lack of courage and initiative, especially in one-on-one situations. He also condemned the home ultras for disrupting a tribute to Sandro Mazzola. The international break gives Sarri time to reset, but the real test comes on October 12 against Venezia. A home win is paramount to stop the slide and ease the growing pressure in the dressing room. From a tactical standpoint, Atalanta showed they could reach the opponent's box but lacked the final product. The missed penalty call against Kalulu only made things worse. While Sarri demanded VAR be scrapped, the bigger issue is why Atalanta failed to score despite their territorial control. Their 11th-place position is not a true reflection of their squad quality, but it is a fair reflection of their current form. Financially, a mid-table finish could cost Atalanta European revenue and weaken their transfer ambitions. Sarri's outburst may also lead to disciplinary action from the Italian football federation, which would add further disruption. The match against Venezia is now the defining moment of their season. A failure would not only deepen the crisis but also put Sarri's future in serious doubt. Atalanta must rediscover their fighting spirit quickly, because the Serie A calendar offers no mercy.