VAR Chaos: Ref Mariani awards phantom penalty against Inter Milan!

AIA confirms the controversial penalty in Napoli-Inter Milan never should have been given

The controversial penalty awarded by referee Mariani in Napoli-Inter Milan has caused waves of discussion and continues to make headlines. After reviewing the match, the Italian Referees Association (AIA) confirmed that the decision was incorrect.

AIA confirms Mariani’s penalty against Inter Milan was wrongly awarded, fueling controversy and debate in Serie A

“The referee Mariani made a mistake, and his assistant Bindoni even more so,” reports Gazzetta dello Sport via Fcinter1908 after the post-match review. 

The penalty, awarded for a supposed contact between Mkhitaryan and Di Lorenzo, was deemed non-existent — only a minor touch, not a foul worthy of a penalty.

Regarding VAR, Mariani performed the check, completed it, and left the decision to the field referee. While he is considered the least responsible of all involved, the AIA confirmed that this penalty should never have been awarded.

As for the consequences: “Some bench time will likely follow, probably more for the assistant than for the international referee,” the AIA added.

The incident has reignited debates across Italian football, with Inter Milan fans and pundits questioning refereeing standards and VAR interventions, and the club’s management, including Beppe Marotta, weighing in on the controversy.