Marotta and Inter protest: ‘Napoli penalty shifted balance of game’

Inter President Giuseppe Marotta took the unusual step of speaking to the media after the 3-1 defeat to Napoli, complaining the controversial penalty was ‘decisive to shift the balance.’

The Nerazzurri were the favourites going into this clash, having won their last seven competitive games in a row, but they were beaten 3-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The deadlock was broken by a very controversial penalty, converted by Kevin De Bruyne, then Scott McTominay doubled the lead with a ferocious strike.

Hakan Calhanoglu also converted from the spot, while Alessandro Bastoni and Denzel Dumfries hit the woodwork, but Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa sealed the 3-1 result after a throw-in.

Rather than coach Cristian Chivu, it was President Marotta who arrived first at the post-match interview area.

“My presence is simply a contribution I wish to give to the football movement and I too am eager to understand,” Marotta told DAZN Italia.

“Even though Napoli eventually legitimised the victory, largely in the final 20 minutes, the penalty was decisive to shift the balance of the game. It came from an evaluation made by the assistant referee. It is clear the referee was in the perfect position to evaluate, he viewed it and turned away, then blew the whistle eight seconds later.

“I thought this was an ideal situation for VAR to intervene, seeing as the referee had initially evaluated and ignored the situation. The footage would’ve allowed the referee to view it again and make his own decision.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Napoli 3-1 Inter

Giovanni Di Lorenzo had run into the box and gone down between a Henrikh Mkhitaryan nudge and the Francesco Acerbi sliding tackle in front, but neither of them seemed to make any significant contact.

The penalty seemed odd because the referee turned his back to the move and walked away, but eight seconds later he blew the whistle, having evidently been told by his assistant that it was a foul.

“Napoli’s victory was sparked by this incident, then of course they won 3-1 eventually, but if we look at the dynamics behind the penalty, it is a reflection that Rocchi has made more than once, saying no more soft penalties. Many journalists and your refereeing pundit Luca Marelli all said this is not a penalty,” continued Marotta.

“We need to understand what a penalty is and is not. I am someone who would prefer to keep the referee at the centre, and if he saw the incident and turned away, then listened to the assistant manager in a worse position, he let himself be influenced far too easily.”

Inter went into the break 1-0 down, having hit the frame of the goal twice with Alessandro Bastoni and Denzel Dumfries.

“I was in the locker room at half time and clearly that penalty had a strong effect on the mood of the team. I am not saying Napoli would not have won anyway, but we are here to protest the way the penalty was assigned.”

There was some tension on the touchline when Inter captain Lautaro Martinez exchanged some harsh words and hand gestures with Napoli coach Antonio Conte. Did this go back to their time together at Inter?

“No, these things happen on the field, we see this a lot in football. I wouldn’t say too much about that,” concluded Marotta.