Napoli boss Antonio Conte fumes at VAR protocol after Serie A draw with Inter - 'This fuels conspiracy theories' - Eurosport
Posted on November 11, 2024, at 11:30 GMT
Conte Fumes Over VAR After Napoli-Inter Draw
Antonio Conte, the manager of Napoli, shares his thoughts during the Serie A game between FC Internazionale and Napoli.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Napoli's coach, Antonio Conte, expressed frustration over the use of VAR during his team's 1-1 draw with Inter, claiming it only adds to conspiracy theories. The former Chelsea manager was particularly upset about a penalty decision against his team.
Scott McTominay opened the scoring for Napoli at the San Siro, but Hakan Calhanoglu brought the teams level just two minutes before the half-time whistle. The tide seemed to turn in favor of the home team when, 16 minutes before the end of the match, referee Maurizio Mariani awarded a penalty after deciding that Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa had fouled Denzel Dumfries inside the penalty area.
Replays revealed that there was very little contact between the players, but according to IFAB rules, a VAR review is only allowed if there is a "clear and obvious mistake" or a "significant incident that was overlooked." As a result, the referee's original decision was upheld.
The protocol left Conte extremely upset following the game, even though Calhanoglu missed the resulting penalty by hitting the post.
"What does it mean when VAR can't step in?" Conte said to DAZN. "It only gets involved when it suits them. If there's a mistake, it should take action. These situations have a big impact on the outcome of the games."
"This situation really frustrates me, just like it does for all coaches. The VAR should step in to fix the referees' mistakes or address anything that was overlooked."
"We find ourselves in a time where we begin to suspect that everyone has hidden agendas. In these situations, the referee needs to take a closer look and, at most, verify the initial call."
Conte expressed his dislike for the VAR system, stating that it leads to conspiracy theories and negative feelings.
"It was frustrating to learn that VAR couldn't step in regarding a penalty that wasn't actually there," he stated. "If a mistake occurs, VAR needs to get involved. If there's a clear mistake, it should definitely intervene."
Employing VAR in this manner only encourages conspiracy theories and negative thinking. I prefer to avoid such negative thoughts. If a mistake occurs, VAR should step in to address it.
"I value open and honest communication, and I've been listening to this issue for some time now, which has started to frustrate me," he went on.
"If there's a noticeable mistake, you should fix it or at least ask the referee to take another look on the monitor. If he stands by his decision after that, I'd be the first to support him."
The draw allowed Napoli to remain at the top of the Serie A standings, where they hold a slim lead in a closely contested league, with only two points between Conte's team and sixth-placed Juventus.
However, this didn't leave the ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager feeling content before the two-week international break.
He mentioned, "All the coaches are upset. VAR needs to step in whenever there's a mistake, regardless of whether it benefits Napoli or not. Who created this protocol?"
"I’m not interested in conspiracy theories; I just want to stay composed while sitting on the sidelines. If not, I risk getting yellow or red cards. Today, I noticed the chances of me receiving a red card were 1 in 4. Unbelievable."
Catch the 2024-25 Premier League matches live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Become one of the over 3 million users on our app!
Keep yourself informed about the newest updates, outcomes, and live sporting events.
