📺 Should Lautaro have seen red? Two penalty shouts, Inter v Napoli ‼️ | OneFootball

Inter-Napoli, beyond the spectacle and the final result, also produced several controversial refereeing moments. Referee Sozza had to deal with a few disputed situations, from Inter’s appeals for two possible penalties to the late clash between Lautaro Martinez and Rafa Marin.

Watch the full Serie BKT live with LaB Channel on OneFootball: subscribe for just €9.99 a month!

Here is the analysis of the main incidents from the match by former referee Gianpaolo Calvarese.

Rrahmani-Pio Esposito: was it a penalty?

The first incident to analyze came after just 14 minutes. From a cross from the right by Bisseck, Rrahmani and Pio Esposito battled for position inside the box. The Inter forward went down and appealed for a foul, claiming he had been held by the Napoli defender.

At first glance, there are elements that could suggest a penalty: Rrahmani seems more focused on his opponent than on the ball, and Pio Esposito initially manages to get goal-side. From another angle, however, it becomes clear that both players are involved in the physical duel, holding each other. For this reason, while it is a borderline situation, the decision to not award the penalty is defensible.

Lobotka-Barella: the handball

The second incident came at the start of the second half, in the 48th minute. After a rebound, the ball went toward Lobotka, with Barella immediately appealing for a penalty for an alleged handball by the Napoli midfielder.

Lobotka’s arm position is indeed unusual: the movement takes his hand from his side upward and, if the contact were confirmed, it would be a punishable situation. The problem lies in the footage available to VAR, which apparently did not provide sufficiently clear and conclusive evidence of the touch. In the absence of decisive proof, Sozza was not called to the monitor and the on-field decision stood.

Lautaro-Rafa Marin: was the second yellow missing?

The final incident involved Lautaro Martinez, already booked, and Rafa Marin. During the move, the Argentine forward made contact with the Napoli defender while trying to gain space. The contact was forceful, but Sozza decided not to intervene with a second booking.

The assessment of the incident leads to the conclusion that the challenge remained within the limits of normal physical play. Lautaro used a certain amount of strength to gain position, but there are not enough grounds to consider the challenge worthy of a second yellow card. Consequently, the referee’s decision to not send off the Inter striker is understandable.

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

📸 ISABELLA BONOTTO - AFP or licensors