‘Italian Referees Don’t Understand English’: Nsofor Blames Language Barrier for Orban’s Serie A Red Card

Former Nigeria international Obinna Nsofor has shed light on the controversy surrounding Gift Orban’s red card in Serie A, suggesting that a language barrier may have played a decisive role.

Orban was dismissed by referee Luca Pairetto during Hellas Verona’s 2-1 defeat to Parma after protesting a challenge in the first half.

The 23-year-old striker, who had been pulled back after winning the ball, reacted angrily when play was allowed to continue and approached the referee to complain.

Pairetto responded with a straight red card, and Orban has since been handed a two-match suspension.

Nsofor, who enjoyed spells with Chievo and Inter Milan and now resides in Italy, argued that the decision was unjust.

He explained that many Italian referees lack proficiency in English and often interpret words spoken in the language as insults.

According to him, Orban, who does not speak Italian, may have expressed his frustration in English, which the referee misunderstood as offensive.

‘Gift was trying to say the foul was from the Parma player. The problem is communication. Most Italian referees don’t understand English, so probably he said something the referee thought was insulting,’ Nsofor told Brila FM.

While acknowledging the persistent issue of racism in Italian football, the former Super Eagles forward dismissed the notion that Orban’s dismissal was racially motivated.

‘It is not a question of racism; the referee didn’t send Gift off because he is racist, so let’s take that out of it,’ he said.