È rigore! Arbitro, sei cieco!

That's a penalty! Referee, you're blind!

Pronunciation

eh ree-GOH-reh! ar-BEE-troh, say CHEH-koh!

When to use it

When the referee fails to award what appears to be an obvious foul in the penalty area. One of the most universal outcries in Italian football stadiums.

What it means

È rigore means it's a penalty. Arbitro is the referee. Sei cieco means you are blind — the classic accusation aimed at referees across Italy. Il rigore (penalty kick) is one of the most emotionally charged moments in football.

Variations

Rigore! Rigore!

Penalty! Penalty!

Repeated for emphasis — the crowd chants this together.

Quella era fallo!

That was a foul!

Protesting any foul, not specifically in the penalty area.

Manda via l'arbitro!

Send off the referee!

Extreme frustration with referee decisions.

Mini Dialogue

— Quello era rigore! — Assolutamente sì! L'arbitro non ha visto niente! — Arbitro, sei cieco! — Calma, c'è il VAR. — Il VAR dirà rigore, vedrete.

— That was a penalty! — Absolutely yes! The referee saw nothing! — Referee, you're blind! — Calm down, there's VAR. — VAR will say penalty, you'll see.

Cultural Note

Complaining about the referee is a sacred Italian football tradition. The expression 'arbitro cornuto' (a very offensive insult to the referee) echoes through stadiums, though stewards increasingly intervene. The introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in Serie A in 2017 added a new dimension to referee arguments.

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