Napoli boss Antonio Conte left fuming with VAR in Inter Milan stalemate
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Napoli coach Antonio Conte reacting during the 1-1 Serie A draw against Inter Milan at the San Siro on Nov 10.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MILAN – Napoli coach Antonio Conte criticised the video assistant referee (VAR) for not intervening to reverse a penalty that Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu eventually missed in their 1-1 league draw on Nov 10.
Napoli earned a point at the San Siro to hold on to their lead at the top of Serie A in what is shaping up to be a tight title race. Conte’s side are on 26 points, one clear of Atalanta, Fiorentina, Inter and Lazio.
While Calhanoglu failed to convert from the spot in the second half, Conte criticised the VAR for not overruling the referee’s decision to penalise Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for a foul on Denzel Dumfries.
“Can they (VAR) only intervene when it suits them? A decision from the referee like this can transform a match and VAR cannot do anything about it?” Conte told DAZN.
“Either VAR is there to correct errors or it is not. If there is an error, it has to intervene. It really angers me, but it does to all coaches. It has to intervene if there is a mistake.
“If there is VAR, it must be used to correct errors or show the referee situations that he did not see. If it’s a clear error, and it was, then why should (referee Maurizio) Mariani be allowed to just do that?”
Turkey captain Calhanoglu, who had fired Inter to a win over Arsenal from the spot in the Champions League in midweek, blasted home the hosts’ equaliser two minutes before the break after Scott McTominay put Napoli ahead midway through the first half.
Despite his frustration with refereeing decisions, Conte was satisfied with his team’s performance against the Italian champions.
“I said we would not come here to just be sparring partners against the strongest squad in Serie A. So it was important for us to face them with strength, character, accepting duels all over the field,” he said.
“On that score, I am very satisfied. It was not easy to play here. We all know that we are making improvements and working hard, otherwise you don’t come to San Siro twice (faced AC Milan as well) and also against Juventus without defeat.”
Meanwhile, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi was satisfied with his team’s performance, highlighting their dominance in the second half. He told DAZN: “If there was one side that should’ve won, then it was Inter. The second half was dominated by us.
“We went behind on a set-play situation where we should’ve done better, but we kept our heads and did not allow Napoli practically anything. We hit the woodwork twice, missed a penalty, so I don’t know what more we could’ve done.” REUTERS, AFP
