Udinese technical director Federico Balzaretti expressed his dismay at the decision to disallow Lorenzo Lucca's goal against Genoa on Saturday, which would have halved the visiting side's deficit.
"The goal absolutely should have been given, and it would have reopened the contest in a second half played with tenacity," he said.
"The challenge between [Lorenzo] Lucca and [Koni] De Winter is a normal part of the game, where both are going for the ball. It is not the first time this year that we have been ruled against for contact of this type. I think of Juve, Napoli and Verona - it is more than a single episode."
"If the referee is blowing for that, it's not football anymore but five-a-side. Football is a contact sport and there aren't challenges without contact."
Commenting on Udinese's next match, against Salernitana on Saturday, Balzaretti said: "It will be a very important match where we will have to be compact. We have to prepare with the bit between our teeth and the right amount of pressure.
"Too much can create problems and we must live with the right balance, but with venom in us. It is a match worth more than three points."