Serie A

Why Juventus defender Kalulu was sent off vs. Inter as VAR could not intervene

February 15, 2026

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Why Juventus defender Kalulu was sent off vs. Inter as VAR could not intervene

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu received two yellow cards in the first half of an away game at Inter, and VAR could not intervene when he was given his marching orders.

Juventus visit Inter at San Siro on Saturday, but will have to play the second half down to ten men following a red card shown to Pierre Kalulu in the opening 45 minutes.

Why Kalulu was sent off in Inter vs. Juventus

PISA, ITALY - DECEMBER 27: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and Juventus FC at Arena Garibaldi on December 27, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) — PISA, ITALY – DECEMBER 27: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and Juventus FC at Arena Garibaldi on December 27, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The French defender was given a second yellow card late in the first half, but replays indicated he made no contact with Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, who seemed to go down too easily in an attempt to draw the booking.

Kalulu and Juventus players vehemently protested and the Bianconeri defender even asked to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, but VAR could not intervene, given that technology can only be used in case of a straight red card and not when a second yellow card leads to a sending off.

BERGAMO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 05: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, speaks to Pierre Kalulu during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) — BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 05: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, speaks to Pierre Kalulu during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The first half ended in a 1-1 draw with goals from Inter’s Luis Henrique and Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso.

Football Italia is among the accredited media at San Siro. You can follow live updates on the liveblog.

‼️Il secondo giallo per #Kalulu è inesistente: il francese sfiora a malapena il braccio di #Bastoni, che crolla a terra, mentre le gambe restano ben distanti😳
😱Incredibile come non possa intervenire da regolamento il Var#InterJuventus #Inter #Juve pic.twitter.com/8EY5FfQieM

— calciomercato.it (@calciomercatoit) February 14, 2026

Juventus are down to ten men as Pierre Kalulu is sent off after picking up his second yellow card 🟥 pic.twitter.com/LYzerA9uRV

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 14, 2026