Rafa Benitez gave an extremely sarcastic post-match interview, following on from Napoli’s protest in the 1-1 draw with Atalanta.
The Coach and club were furious after Mauricio Pinilla snuck up behind Paulo Henrique to steal the ball and score, which many consider to be a foul.
“It is very difficult to referee with only six officials. Clearly they need extra ones on either side of the goal, so they might actually see the incidents,” Benitez sarcastically told Sky Sport Italia.
Rafa Benitez gave an extremely sarcastic post-match interview, following on from Napoli’s protest in the 1-1 draw with Atalanta.
The Coach and club were furious after Mauricio Pinilla snuck up behind Paulo Henrique to steal the ball and score, which many consider to be a foul.
“It is very difficult to referee with only six officials. Clearly they need extra ones on either side of the goal, so they might actually see the incidents,” Benitez sarcastically told Sky Sport Italia.
Napoli released a statement claiming the “League has been falsified” and they slipped down to fifth place.
“We had many scoring opportunities, didn’t take them and other teams won. There are 10 rounds to go, but hopefully the request for an extra two referees will help.
“We had eight clear chances. For 12-13 minutes after the red card there was the goal incident – which of course was hard to see – and Atalanta played very deep.
“We are a team who want to play football, but I’ve seen a lot of time-wasting and I’d call it something else… It’s hard to talk to my team after they did so much to win.”
Benitez was asked if he thought this was in some way a dishonest decision, or at least one that was not in good faith.
“I am convinced he didn’t see it, otherwise it would be dangerous. I am convinced him, the fourth official, the linesmen and the goal-line officials didn’t see it, otherwise obviously they would’ve awarded the foul.
“I had never been shown a yellow card for dissent in all of my life, so it seemed frankly strange to be sent off.
“After more than 600 games if I had not received a booking, it means if I got that angry then there was a reason.
“Losing a game against a team with 10 men for an incident like that was not a football incident. All I can say is they must not have said it. It can happen.”
Atalanta striker Mauricio Pinilla insisted it was “not a foul” on Henrique.
“I saw him slowing down and tried to anticipate him by putting my foot in front to get the ball,” the Chile international told Sky Sport Italia.
“I didn’t push him, I don’t know if he slipped or what, but for me it was a clean intervention and a goal.”