Napoli Chief Attacks Referee Over VAR Controversy

Both manager Carlo Ancelotti and his assistant who is also his son, Davide, were shown the red card in Partenopei’s stalemate against Atalanta at the Stadio San Paolo.

Nikola Maksimovic gave Napoli the lead in the 16th minute but Remo Freuler equalized for the visitors before halftime.

Napoli were winning, thanks to Arkaduisz Milik’s strike, but Josip Ilicic scored late for Atalanta on a counter attack.

Prior to the goal, Napoli were denied a late penalty for Simon Kjaer’s challenge on Fernando Llorente, but Ilicic’s 86th-minute equaliser stood after a long VAR review.

De Laurentiis was very livid after the game and he criticized referee Pino Giacomelli for his decision not to award a penalty for Napoli.

“Without us, the referees would be peeling potatoes," De Laurentiis told Sky Sport Italia.

"If there is VAR it's pointless creating eight minutes of additional time because all that happens is pushing and shouting.

"And what is this buffoonery from the referee who kicks out a gentleman like Ancelotti? We're fed up. We're tired of paying for this standard of officiating."

De Laurentiis also criticized Italian chief of referees Marcello Nicchi and referee designator Nicola Rizzoli.

"I don’t think Rizzoli and Nicchi do their job well,” he added.

 “They’ll say that it’s not for De Laurentiis to say, but what I will say is that I, like the other Serie A Presidents who help ensure Serie B and Serie C both exist, have the right to be heard.”

“Otherwise, Mr. Rizzoli and Nicchi will have 80 million Italians, who are tired of this arrogance and haughtiness, to answer for.”

“This version of football is insanely sick that we haven’t been able to change it for 30 years now.

“We’re tired of being involuntary supporters of referees, also in a financial sense. We can’t allow the highest-ranking Serie A teams to run up debts of €300m and still let these people play.”