Former Serie A referee Luca Marelli has questioned the decisive penalty awarded to Napoli in their dramatic 3-2 victory over Genoa , arguing the contact on Antonio Vergara was too minimal to justify the spot-kick.
Speaking on DAZN, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb , Marelli analysed the key incidents in a match packed with controversy.
On Napoli's penalty, he felt the decision itself was correct but the disciplinary action was not.
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Lorenzo Colombo of Genoa (left) and Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli vie for the ball during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
"Buongiorno makes a mistake, Vitinha gets in and there is contact with Meret ," Marelli said.
"At first I didn't think it was a penalty, because the attacker drags his foot before the impact, but we have to consider that Meret obstructs the player. The infringement is there. The yellow card, however, was wrong. The ball was heading towards the byline, so it should have been only a penalty, without a booking."
He also commented on Juan Jesus ' dismissal.
"Massa hadn't seen the first incident. The booking was given for unsporting behaviour while play was stopped, which in my opinion was a bit excessive. No doubts about the second yellow, though, for holding."
LISBON, PORTUGAL – DECEMBER 10: Antonio Vergara of SSC Napoli in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between SL Benfica and SSC Napoli at Estadio da Luz on December 10, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Marelli was most critical of the late penalty that decided the match, when Antonio Vergara was brought down in the box by Maxwell Cornet.
"I don't agree with the decision or with the on-field review. From the first angle it looked like a clear penalty, but Cornet's foot never really comes down on Vergara's. There is contact, but it's very light. Too light for a penalty."
