When the Penalty Plate Is a Plot Twist: Milan’s 1-1 corker with Genoa and a controversial moment
9 January 2026
Match recap
The Milan vs Genoa clash delivered a chaotic 1-1 draw in Serie A round 19, a game defined by late drama and surprising moments. Genoa opened the scoring in the 28th minute, with Milan leveling deep into stoppage time at 90+2.
Penalty controversy and aftermath
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Strahinja Pavlovic was seen allegedly manipulating the penalty area, in a bid to mislead the referee. Reportedly, he carved the spot with his left foot four times and then twice with his right, a move that earned him a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The late drama saw Genoa awarded a spot kick, but Stanciu’s powerful effort sailed over the bar, denying a possible win for the visitors and leaving the teams to share the points.
The match footage and match reports credit the moment to Pavlovic’s controversial act, which sparked discussions about fair play and on-pitch tactics in Italian football. The game also featured Milan’s dramatic equalizer and a tense finish that kept the San Siro crowd on its feet.
As the whistle blew, the refereeing and the ethics of the moment were the talking points, with Pavlovic receiving a caution and the incident becoming a talking point for pundits and fans alike.
In the end, Milan earned a point, Genoa left with one, and the night added another chapter to the ongoing debate over sportsmanship and hustle in football.
Punchlines: If Pavlovic keeps digging, Milan might hire him as their official penalty-spot archaeologist. And remember, in football as in comedy, sometimes the setup is dirtier than the punchline—and tonight the crowd loved the twist.
