A group of Napoli fans have filed a class action lawsuit against referee Istvan Kovacs and UEFA, demanding €150m in damages for ‘violating the principles of sporting fairness’ in the Champions League quarter-final with Milan.
The legal action was taken by the associations Noi Consumatori and Napoli Club Maradona, assisted by lawyer Angelo Pisani and a pool of colleagues.
They are attempting to argue that the performance of Romanian referee Kovacs ‘violated the principles of sporting fairness’ by favouring Milan in the 1-0 Rossoneri victory.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was sent off and Kim Min-jae booked, which will rule both of them out of the second leg at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday.
“We are preparing a class action lawsuit to demand €150m in damages from UEFA, Aleksandar Ceferin and Marchetti. The refereeing at San Siro risks smashing the dreams of an entire city, damages millions of fans who have always been in love with this sport and naively spend thousands of Euros to be close to their beloved team.
“UEFA cannot treat Napoli and Naples in this manner.”
It is not the first time a frivolous lawsuit has been filed by similar consumer groups and organised fan clubs, which rarely go anywhere.
Napoli have reacted furiously to the decisions of referee Kovacs and the club had to condemn the behaviour of journalists who heckled and insulted the official in the San Siro mixed zone after the match.