The Italian refereeing association have given their full backing to Davide Massa despite a couple contentious decisions in Sunday evening’s Serie A match between Napoli and Inter Milan.
This according to today’s print edition of Naples-based newspaper Il Mattino, via FCInterNews.
Inter left the Stadio Armando Maradona with three points and a 3-0 win on Sunday.
It was an emphatic victory and a clear statement in the Serie A title race.
But for the Napoli players and staff, there was an air of injustice. This related to a couple of decisions that referee Massa, along with the VAR, had made.
The Partenopei felt that the official had missed fouls by Inter players. And furthermore, that these had been key turning points in the match.
And even for Inter’s other Serie A title rivals, particularly Juventus, there will have been some disappointment that these decisions went the way of the league leaders.
But the Italian Refereeing Association are aiming tip nip this “controversy” in the bud.
They have given their full support for Massa’s officiating on Sunday.
Italian Refereeing Association Fully Back Davide Massa Decisions In Napoli Vs Inter Clash
The first contentious decision on Sunday came in the buildup to Inter’s opening goal.
It was Hakan Calhanoglu who scored with a long-range effort towards the end of the first half of the Serie A clash.
But the Napoli players’ protests concerned an incident a bit earlier on in the sequence of play.
The Partenopei were adamant that Inter captain Lautaro Martinez had fouled Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka in midfield. This caused the ball to break for Inter, who initiated their attack leading to Calhanoglu’s goal.
But for the Italian Refereeing Association, there was little in that challenge by Martinez.
It may not have been the cleanest of challenges. But Lobotka had already lost control of the ball before that clumsy 50/50 duel.
And in any event, the Refereeing Association contends, the incident took place a ways before the goal was actually scored, even if it was ostensibly an attacking foul.
Meanwhile, Napoli also felt aggrieved that Massa did not award a penalty for a Francesco Acerbi challenge on Victor Osimhen in the area during the second half.
Considering that the scoreline was 0-1 at the time, it could have significantly altered the trajectory of the match.
But for the Italian Refereeing Association, there is once again nothing doing.
The Refereeing Association contend that Massa made the right decision in not pointing to the spot.
