Tension in Monza does not subside even after the dramatic five-set match between Vero Volley Monza and Cisterna Volley, which ended 3:2 (15:13 in the tie-break) for the team from Lazio atOpiquad Arenaon November 8, 2025.

As reported byVolleynews.it, the club from Brianza has filed an official complaint with the competent authorities due to the controversial, in their opinion, referee's decision on the last point of the match.

"In our opinion, the error is present," commented head coach Massimo Eccheli. "Now the referee will decide, and we will see what happens."

"A match with many twists and turns"

Monza's head coachMassimo Ecchelidescribed the match as one with many twists and turns and a fluctuating rhythm:

"We didn't get into the match at all in the first set, but then we were very good in the second and third, when Rorhs and Padar led the team with strong serving. Then there was a drop ", I would call it psycho-physical. This is a new squad that still needs to get used to fighting together and finding its balance on the court, its points of support. On the one hand, we are disappointed, but on the other hand, we must build on the good things and develop our style of play."

What Monza is actually disputing

As specified byVolleyball.it, Monza's complaint is related to the last rally with the score 13:14 for Cisterna.
Monza's liberoScanferladove to save a difficult ball, and in doing so, his foot crossed under the net into Cisterna's court, which is usually a foul. Nevertheless, he managed to make a precise pass toMarttila, who finishes the attack for 14:14.

After the ball landed, Cisterna's coach Daniele Morato immediately signaled for a video challenge, suspecting a foul. The review confirmed that there was an invasion of the opponent's court and the point was awarded to the visitors, who thus won the match 15:13.

The crux of the dispute

Monza does not deny that there was a technical foul. Their protest concerns the moment the video challenge was requested.
They claim that the video should have been requested during the rally, and not after its conclusion.

In other words, Monza believes that once the point was already concluded and awarded in their favor, the referees should not have changed it based on a later request.

What the regulations state

This is where the key point comes in, explained by Volleyball.it.
Article 2 of the FIPAV video challenge regulations (2024/25 season) states that a request for a video challenge can be made during play, if there is suspicion of a foul by the opposing team. However, if the action is too fast and cannot be interrupted in time, the referees can honor a request made immediately after the end of the rally.

This is exactly what happened in Monza – the disputed rally was too dynamic to be stopped in time, and Cisterna's request was made immediately after the end of the point, as the regulations allow. It should be clarified here that these regulations have not undergone any changes in this part after the end of the 2024/25 season, i.e., they are fully valid for the new 2025/26 season as well.

Conclusion

In practice, Monza wants the point to be awarded, while the regulations allow for a review after the end of the action, if it is made immediately after the end of the last one.
Thus, the referees acted according to the regulations, and Monza's appeal, as summarized byVolleyball.it, seems unfounded.

photo: volleyball.it