Gift Orban red card: Hellas Verona in media blackout after Parma defeat

Hellas Verona have taken a strong stand after what they believe was an unfair refereeing decision in their Serie A match against Parma Calcio 1913 on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.

The club refused to speak to journalists after the final whistle, breaking the usual tradition of post-match interviews. This action came after Nigerian forward Gift Orban was shown a straight red card just 11 minutes into the game.

Verona officials described the decision as harsh and disrespectful, not only to the team but also to their supporters and the city. They believe an injustice was done and made it clear that their silence was a form of protest against the refereeing authorities.

Orban had been involved in a challenge near the centre circle with Parma defender Enrico Del Prato. Frustrated by the contact, the striker reacted by gesturing towards referee Luca Pairetto, who immediately sent him off.

The early dismissal left Verona with a huge task in a match they badly needed to win as they continue their fight to stay in Serie A.

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Hellas Verona fight back but late Parma goal seals defeat

Things had already started badly for Verona before the red card. Parma took the lead in the fourth minute when midfielder Adrian Bernabé found the net with a well-placed strike.

After Orban’s sending off, pressure continued to build on the visitors. Another clash involving Parma defender Lautaro Valenti caused further anger among Verona players, but after a VAR check, the referee stuck with his original decision.

Despite being a man down, Verona showed great spirit and were rewarded just before half-time. Midfielder Abdou Harroui calmly scored from the penalty spot to level the match at 1-1.

For much of the second half, Verona defended bravely and looked set to earn a valuable point. However, their resistance was finally broken deep into stoppage time when Mateo Pellegrino scored in the 93rd minute to give Parma a dramatic win.

The defeat was even more painful for Verona considering Orban’s strong form this season. Since arriving in the summer, the striker has scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 league matches, making him one of the team’s key attacking players.

Verona will now hope the controversy does not damage their momentum as they continue their battle to avoid relegation.