Napoli v Inter: who is Daniele Bindoni, the penalty assistant? | OneFootball

It was him, Daniele Bindoni, who pointed out to Maurizio Mariani the contact in the area between Mkhitaryan and Di Lorenzo that led to the penalty for Napoli.

Napoli-Inter, who is Daniele Bindoni, Mariani's assistant who "decided" the penalty for Napoli

An episode that ignited the Maradona match and sparked protests from Inter, but also turned the spotlight on the Venetian-origin assistant referee, an involuntary protagonist of one of the most discussed moments of the day.

The penalty that changed the game: Bindoni's signal

It was the 29th minute of the first half of Napoli–Inter when everything happened. Mariani, positioned a few meters from the action, initially let play continue after the contact between Mkhitaryan and Di Lorenzo, moving towards midfield. Moments later, however, the delayed whistle: the referee reconsidered following a signal from his assistant, Daniele Bindoni, who from the sideline deemed the intervention by the Nerazzurri midfielder to be a foul.

The rest is history: penalty for Napoli, furious protests from Inter, and controversies still heated the day after. An episode that, willingly or not, made Bindoni one of the most mentioned names of the football weekend.

From Serie C to the Champions League: who is Daniele Bindoni

Daniele Bindoni was born in Westwood (United States) but is Venetian from Cannaregio. He will turn 45 on December 12. After a career as a referee up to Serie C, in 1996 he chose to dedicate himself to the role of assistant referee.

The turning point came in the summer of 2017, when then-designator Nicola Rizzoli promoted him to Serie A after 69 appearances in Serie B. From that moment, Bindoni has built a top-notch resume, with 263 total appearances between the Italian championship and international competitions.

In 2021, he was officially included in the FIFA lists, participating as an assistant in Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, World Cup and European qualifiers, Nations League, and Under 21 and Under 19 European Championships.

In September 2025, he took part in the spectacular Liverpool–Atletico Madrid Champions League match, won 3-2 by the Reds, while a few weeks earlier he had assisted Mariani in the Under 20 World Cup final between Argentina and Morocco, held in Santiago, Chile.

An assistant with his head among the stars

A little-known but fascinating curiosity: Bindoni has a degree in Astronomy. A passion for science that complements the precision and rigor that distinguish him on the field. Those who know him describe a reserved, meticulous figure, with an almost "scientific" attention to the details of actions and positions on the field.

Perhaps also for this reason, Mariani, who shares a long collaboration with him, tends to trust his indications blindly. A trust that, on the night at Maradona, ended up deciding one of the most controversial episodes of the season.

Bindoni and Mariani, a fixed pair in the refereeing world

The collaboration between Mariani and Bindoni is a long-standing one: the two form one of the most well-established pairs in the AIA. Together they have officiated numerous Serie A and international matches, including youth finals and UEFA qualifying matches.

This very understanding, consolidated over the years, explains why Mariani listened to his assistant even in such a delicate situation. It remains to be seen whether designator Gianluca Rocchi will judge the overall management of the episode positively or if measures will be taken following the controversies.

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