Referee explains controversial penalty decisions in Inter 1-1 Napoli

Serie A referee Maurizio Mariani has explained why VAR was right not to intervene after a ‘soft’ penalty was awarded to Inter during their 1-1 draw at home to Napoli, while also explaining why it was correct not to award the Nerazzurri another spot-kick after an apparent Partenopei handball.

Penalties and the usage of VAR were at the centre of attention after full-time in San Siro on Sunday evening. Simone Inzaghi’s side were awarded a spot-kick for a foul on Denzel Dumfries, much to the anger of Antonio Conte, but Hakan Calhanoglu struck the upright from 12 yards out.

There were also calls for a second Nerazzurri penalty after an apparent handball by Mathias Olivera in the Partenopei area. Lautaro Martinez challenged the Uruguayan in the middle, before the ball bounced up and hit the Napoli full-back on the hand.

Mariani explains controversial Inter penalty calls against Napoli 

Mariani explained after full-time that Olivera’s hand was in a natural position, and given the speed of the incident, he felt the defender did not have enough time to move his arm out of the way, and that therefore VAR were right not to intervene or overturn the on-field decision.

Mariani also explained why it was ‘correct’ for VAR not to intervene after the decision to award a Nerazzurri penalty after the foul on Dumfries, even though many, including Conte, felt that the penalty call was soft.

“The penalty was awarded after a very light bit of contact between Anguissa and Dumfries. Mariani has a very good view of it, which means that VAR cannot intervene,” he said, reported via inter-news.it.

“In reality, given how light the contact is, these are not incidents that deserve a penalty. He should not have whistled, Mariani probably viewed the intensity of the situation differently.”