Inter CEO Beppe Marotta expressed frustration over the penalty that opened the scoring as Inter Milan lost 3-1 to Napoli, arguing that the decision changed the momentum of the match.
Speaking to DAZN, Marotta said the spot-kick, converted by Kevin De Bruyne, “was decisive in shifting the balance” before Napoli went on to claim all three points.
Marotta criticised the process behind the decision, with quotes via FCInterNews.
“The referee didn’t whistle anything and was better positioned than everyone. Then he gives a penalty because the assistant decides. The images are clear – from that moment, the match took a different direction,” he said.
Napoli’s penalty gave them a lead over Inter heading into half-time, before second half goals from Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
Napoli 3-1 Inter Milan: Fair Winners But Marotta Criticises Decisions
Although he later acknowledged, “Napoli then legitimised their victory and honour to the winners,” Marotta maintained that the incident “sparked anger and disappointment already at half-time and conditioned the match.”
Referencing recent refereeing directives, he added: “Rocchi said ‘no more soft penalties.’ You judge this one.”
On a brief touchline flashpoint, Marotta played down controversy: “Lautaro and Conte? Just football dynamics, nothing more.”
Inter will now attempt to regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
On Wednesday, the Nerazzurri return to San Siro after three away games on the bounce.
Inter welcome Fiorentina on Wednesday night before an early kick off in Verona on Sunday afternoon.
A midweek Champions League test against minnows Kairat follows before the Nerazzurri’s last game before the international break against Lazio on November 9.
Crap penalty decision, but can we get an explanation from Chivu on why he played with 3 defenders against a team playing with no striker? I’ve been a Chivu supporter but come on man our midfield got ran over
if that penalty gets review further by the ref then it would’ve been clear the contact was made simply because the other player manufactured it. That was the initial thought but the ref was clear in his decisions that he never bothered to check it out again and concluded it was legit contact. It seems these key decisions are consistently going against Inter. However the match was lost when Inter scored from the penalty Inter just stopped playing and kept going forward to Pio and Lautaro like a relegation team. Then when all of Hakan, Barella and Dumfries went out Inter’s fate was sealed. Chivu needs to learn from this and move on the next match because Napoli will drop points 100% just like any other teams because I do believe now with so many injuries they will struggle breaking down weaker teams who will 100% have better defence than Inter because the two goals conceded were just terrible.
This guy built this horrible squad and now he wants to blame the referee?
Do you think it was a penalty?
well said bro
CONTE HAS PROBLEMS, HE ALWAYS WANT 2 INFLUENCE D GAME BY REGULAR RANTIN. HE CAN ONLY SUCCEED IN SERIE A