Legendary former Inter Milan defender Beppe Bergomi believes that challenges between Francesco Acerbi and Victor Osimhen, and Lautaro Martinez and Stanislav Lobotka were not fouls.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia after the match, via FCInter1908, the former Nerazzurri captain also gave the view that Lautaro Martinez did not foul Stanislav Lobotka in the buildup to the match’s opening goal.

Yesterday’s match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was hardly the most controversial match that Serie A has ever seen from a refereeing perspective.

But the home side in particular had some protests concerning a couple decisions.

The most prominent concerned an appeal for a penalty by striker Osimhen.

The Nigerian had felt contact from Inter defender Francesco Acerbi inside the Nerazzurri penalty area.

There was no doubt that there was some contact between the two players. But referee Davide Massa deemed it not to be enough for a penalty.

That incident had taken place in the second half.

But in the first half as well, the Napoli players had felt some anger at a decision.

Massa did not whistle for a foul following a coming-together between Inter captain Martinez and Napoli midfielder Lobotka.

Perhaps this would have passed by unremarkably. But then shortly afterwards, Hakan Calhanoglu scored Inter’s opener.

The Partenopei players felt that Massa should have gone to his VAR to disallow the goal.

But in the view of Bergomi, the refereeing team got it all spot-on.

Bergomi: No Penalty For Acerbi Contact On Osimhen, Lautaro On Lobotka Not A Foul

Of the coming-together between Martinez and Lobotka, Bergomi remarked that “In Europe, those kinds of incidents aren’t whistled.”

“The referee is two metres away,” he noted,

“Lautaro then makes contact with Lobotka because he loses his balance and falls,” he noted.

Bergomi then asserted that “Inter lost a title due to a foul by Giroud on Sanchez during the derby, and it wasn’t reviewed for VAR.”

And as far as the challenge on Osimhen, Bergomi wasn’t convinced that it was a foul.

“Penalties have been given for incidents like that in the past,” the former defender said.

“But for me there’s too little in it for it to be a foul.”