Serie A refereeing expert Luca Marelli feels that it’s understandable why VAR didn’t overturn Inter Milan’s penalty against Napoli.
Marelli explained the circumstances of the incident on Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInter1908. He argued that even though there was not all that much in the challenge, the referee had a good view.
Inter got a penalty in the second half of this evening’s Serie A match against Napoli.
In the end, the decision had little bearing on the match. Hakan Calhanoglu missed his effort from the spot, and the match ended 1-1.
But that did not stop Napoli coach Antonio Conte from fuming about the decision after the match.
The 55-year-old argued that it is essentially pointless to have the VAR in place if it is not going to intervene in situations such as this evening’s penalty to Inter.
Serie A Refereeing Expert Marelli Explains Why Inter Penalty Vs Napoli Not Overturned By VAR
The issue that Conte had with the penalty decision seemed to be that there was not enough contact in the challenge that the penalty was awarded for.
The challenge in question was by Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa on Inter wingback Denzel Dumfries.
There’s little question that there was some contact.
And the challenge was clumsy. Anguissa failed to win the ball with his tackle.
However, the incident was not exactly the most clear-cut penalty.
Therefore, it is not too surprising to see the drama and controversy emerge in the aftermath of the decision.
But Serie A refereeing expert Marelli has shed some light on the matter.
Marelli notes that there was “minimal contact.”
“But there was contact between Anguissa and Dumfries.”
“It’s up to the referee on the pitch, and he was close to the action and had a good view,” Marelli noted.
“And that’s why the penalty was not overturned by VAR.”
