Orsato backs Di Bello over De Bruyne goal in Genoa-Napoli row | OneFootball

Daniele Orsato has backed Marco Di Bello over the goal that settled Genoa-Napoli, with Italy’s refereeing leadership maintaining that no error was made in allowing Kevin De Bruyne’s strike to stand.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Orsato had already formed that view inside the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday evening, and when challenged as he left the ground he responded: “Why, what happened?”

GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

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The stance follows instructions Orsato gave officials at the summer gathering in Cascia, a deliberately high, almost permissive threshold for fouls and VAR interventions kept to a minimum, mirroring UEFA’s approach. Refereeing chiefs reiterated on Sunday morning that a whistle would not have been an error either.

GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Johan Vasquez of Genoa is challenged by Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Not everyone agrees, including some within CAN itself. Corriere notes that De Bruyne’s right arm did make contact with Johan Vasquez, and argues that with the roles reversed the incident would look closer to a penalty than a let-play.

Genoa coach Daniele De Rossi was scathing afterwards, calling it “one of the ugliest things I have suffered since I’ve been in football.”