Naples infuriated, Raffaele Palladino disagrees: "The'referee got it right"

Atalanta-Napoli ended with a victory for the hosts, however, dragging into the aftermath of the match in Bergamo endless controversy over some disputed decisions by the referee, Daniele Chiffi. The Azzurri, in particular, complained about the penalty awarded and then denied for a contact between Hien and Hojlund and then exploded again when a goal by Gutierrez was not validated for an earlier foul, curiously enough, by Hojlund on Hien. Episodes that the Nerazzurri coach, Raffaele Palladino, also returned to, with statements intended not to calm the waters.

Marco Enzo Venturini

Palladino in fact addressed the issue with one common thread: declaring himself in agreement with the referee&#8217s decisions. Solicited at the microphones of ‘DAZN’ on the goal denied to Gutierrez for the contract between Hojlund and Hien, the Atalanta coach said: “For me the foul is there&#8217. It is clear and obvious, the two make contact. I have reviewed the episode, and I see my player tackling Hojlund one on one starting from a position of advantage. It all seems very clear to me, even Hien confirmed that he was knocked down. I understand Napoli’s position, but I think there is nothing to add”.

Subsequently Palladino also spoke to ‘Sky Sport’ stating basically the same. “My feeling is that the foul was there – confirmed the’Atalanta coach -. I from my seat saw that Hien was ahead. Then I also wanted to talk to him, and the player reported to me that he was dragged to the ground by Hojlund. I consider it a clear and obvious foul. I think the’referee was right to blow the whistle”.

Diametrically opposed view of Napoli on the incident, but also on the previous decision of the referee on the field in Bergamo. “On the penalty episode in the first half they watched – recalled Giovanni Manna, ds of the Azzurri -. Urgent reflection is needed, every Sunday there is a team that comes to complain. This is not soccer, it is embarrassing. Chiffi probably saw something only he saw, that&#8217s fine, but why wasn&#8217t he corrected? Hien throws himself down”.

“We are playing for Champions, you come to play a game of this depth in Bergamo, we could have gone 2-0… We are tired. I thought the ball came out, go figure. Here it is not subjective, here the contact is not there’it” added Manna. Napoli coach Antonio Conte, on the other hand, decided to remain silent by not appearing to the press after the defeat against Atalanta.