This was the Nerazzurri president’s response to the penalty incident following contact between Mkhitaryan and Di Lorenzo: “Rocchi has always said ‘no more soft penalties’, more consistency is needed.”

“The penalty in the first half decided the game.” Beppe Marotta, Inter president, spoke about the penalty awarded to the Azzurri in the first half after contact between Di Lorenzo and Mkhitaryan. A clear comment. A strong stance from the club. “This is a contribution I want to make to the system: the penalty was decisive and was signaled by the assistant referee. I believe this situation would have required the intervention of VAR.”

“Napoli deserved their victory in the last half hour,” Marotta continued, “but our players gave their all. The result was mainly due to this incident. When Rocchi says ‘no more soft penalties,’ then we need to understand what penalties are. I want to make a contribution, let’s be clear. I am in favor of the referee’s central role, but if an assistant referee takes over who has a much more reductive view than the other, then what can we say? That penalty created anger and bitterness, I am referring to the chronology of the match. And to the decision made by the referee.“ No comment, however, on the argument between Lautaro and Conte: ”Honestly, I would gloss over it…”