Napoli anger at referee and VAR: ‘It’s absurd and embarrassing’ | OneFootball

Napoli director Giovanni Manna lashed out at the ‘absurd, embarrassing’ decision to disallow a goal in their 2-1 defeat to Atalanta. ‘Why did VAR not intervene?’

The Partenopei were leading 1-0 in Bergamo with the Sam Beukema free header, but more importantly felt they had two huge opportunities to extend that advantage.

First a penalty was awarded for the Isak Hien coming together with Rasmus Hojlund only to be revoked by a VAR review, then the officials did not intervene when a soft foul was given against Hojlund on Hien to set up the Miguel Gutierrez goal.

Instead, Atalanta turned it all around in the final half-hour with headers from Mario Pasalic and Lazar Samardzic.

Napoli rage at ‘shameful’ refereeing

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Antonio Conte, SSC Napoli head coach, argues with referee Giovanni Ayroldi during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“It is impossible to comment on this. We have the penalty revoked, but after the restart the referee blows the whistle and there is no contact, no foul, there’s no VAR check, the goal is disallowed, it’s embarrassing?” Manna told DAZN Italia.

“Where is the foul? The VAR called him on the penalty, why not on this? It’s embarrassing! We try to be really nice and kind, we didn’t complain because incidents can balance themselves out. We had problems in Turin and Verona, we said nothing, but this is embarrassing.

“We are here challenging for a place in the Champions League and we see a goal disallowed over nothing.”

SASSUOLO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Referee Daniele Chiffi during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on February 08, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The last week has seen so much controversy over the role of VAR, the protocol for when they can overturn or recommend a review to the referee, and these incidents will only add to those calls for the AIA to make big changes.

“There has to be a reflection, because every week a club ends up here protesting about decisions,” continued Manna.

“All we want is what is right, what is ours, but this is not right, and it is not football. It’s shameful, I have no more words.”

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The two incidents involving Hien and Hojlund were arguably very similar, in that not all contact is a penalty, but then how much of a ‘clear and obvious error’ does it need to be before VAR can step in?

“On the penalty, if the referee gives that and then they call him to say there’s not enough contact, then why did VAR not call him for the second one too?

“It is probably something that only Chiffi saw, there is no VAR check. It is absurd. Incredible. It’s already a tough season for us, we come to Bergamo in this condition, and we see a perfectly good goal disallowed. It’s paradoxical.”

The only suggestion for that ‘foul’ might be that Hojlund had hold of Hien’s arm under his elbow and pulled him down, but even then it seems unlikely the referee saw that.

Another option might be that the linesman recommended the foul to the referee on the touchline, but either way, the VAR check was extraordinarily fast before play resumed.

CREMONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 28, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

“I assumed from the stands that the ball had gone out of play, because there’s nothing else there. If anything, Hien is hanging off Hojlund.

“If there’s nothing there, it’s not about being subjective or objective. We don’t like being made to look like idiots. We work hard, we struggle, and this is not acceptable.”

The fact remains that this result completely shakes up the fight for a Champions League spot, because Napoli are now only five points clear of Como and Atalanta in sixth and seventh, and risk being caught by Roma this evening in third.