⚠️ Mariani under fire, VAR decisive in Napoli v Inter 🫣 | OneFootball

The clash between Napoli and Inter, which ended 3-1 for the Azzurri, has turned into a refereeing controversy that is likely to be discussed for a long time.

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The protagonist, albeit unwillingly, was Maurizio Mariani from the Aprilia section, called to manage a heated match marked by a penalty that sparked much debate.

The penalty awarded to Napoli in the 29th minute for a contact between Di Lorenzo and Mkhitaryan ignited the controversy: a late decision, an endless VAR check, and conflicting opinions from experts.

An evening that reopens the debate on the boundary between "game contact" and "penalty foul."

🫣 The Di Lorenzo-Mkhitaryan Contact

The incident arose from an incursion by Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who, after an exchange with Anguissa, entered the area and fell to the ground after a touch from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mariani initially allowed play to continue, but after about eight seconds, he stopped the game and pointed to the spot, triggering protests from the Nerazzurri. The VAR took over four minutes to complete the review but confirmed the on-field decision. From the penalty spot, Kevin De Bruyne scored the opening goal.

The images, however, show minimal contact, with Di Lorenzo seemingly extending his left leg to seek the impact. Acerbi, in a slide, clearly touches the ball instead.

🗣️ The Words of Former Referees

Former referees Marelli and Calvarese commented on the incident, and both agree: the penalty should have been revoked.

Luca Marelli (DAZN):

“The penalty was signaled by the assistant, which is why Mariani blew the whistle with a guilty delay. But this is not a penalty. I reiterate that there is no foul by Mkhitaryan, who actually suffers the impact. Di Lorenzo extends his leg seeking contact. Acerbi gets the ball, and the VAR should have intervened to revoke the penalty. It’s a wrong call.”

Gianpaolo Calvarese (former referee and moviolista):

“Di Lorenzo shifts his leg into Mkhitaryan's running path, seeking and finding a contact that is not foul-worthy. Mariani had seen well by letting play continue but changed his mind after the assistant's signal. In this situation, the VAR should have called him to the monitor to revoke the penalty. It’s a penalty that should not be awarded.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport shares the same opinion, giving Mariani a score of 4 in the report card, justified as follows:

"A penalty that is a blunder, another (this one real) not seen, a missing yellow card. Fresh from the U20 final, with Bindoni (yesterday's advisor) referees in delay".

🤔 Gilmour's Yellow Card and On-field Confusion

In the first half's stoppage time, the match took on a yellow hue due to communication confusion.

Television graphics and the Lega Serie A website mistakenly showed a double card for Gilmour, but in reality, the first yellow was given to Di Lorenzo for a foul on Calhanoglu.

Gilmour was then booked only in the 46th minute for a foul on Dumfries. An episode that highlights the atmosphere of uncertainty and the difficulty in managing a tension-filled match.

📺 The Penalty for Inter

In the 56th minute, it was Inter's turn to benefit from a penalty, this time judged correctly by everyone.

On a header by Lautaro Martinez, Buongiorno touched the ball with his wide arm. After the VAR's call, Mariani awarded the penalty to the Nerazzurri, recognizing a clear increase in "body volume."

A clear episode that, however, fuels the feeling of inconsistent refereeing, with two penalties opposite in dynamics but treated the same way.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.