STOLEN SCUDETTO? INZAGHI’S ANGRY AND THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST NAPOLI: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BEYOND THE SCENES
Milan – The season that seemed perfect for Inter ended in a bitter and controversial way. Despite a convincing victory on the last day of the championship, the Nerazzurri incredibly lost the Scudetto to Napoli, generating anger, suspicion and a real media storm. But what really shook Italian football were the words of Simone Inzaghi, who did not mince his words in the post-match: “Napoli fixed the match against Cagliari. This is no longer a competition, it’s a farce.”
An explosive end to the season
It all came down to the final day. Inter did their job, beating Torino with a clear 3-0 at San Siro. But their title hopes were dashed when, almost simultaneously, Napoli snatched a questionable away win against Cagliari with a disputed penalty in the 94th minute. A penalty that, according to many experts, should not have been awarded.
The images of the incriminating foul immediately went viral. The referee whistled for a light contact between Osimhen and Dossena in the rossoblù area. After a quick VAR review, the penalty was confirmed. Kvaratskhelia did not miss, giving the three points to Napoli and the Scudetto that many now saw as black and blue.
Inzaghi’s accusations
After the match, Simone Inzaghi did not hold back. Visibly tired, he declared in front of the microphones:
“We gave everything on the pitch, all season, but if certain games end like that, there is nothing to be done. It is not the first time that something strange has happened with Napoli. We need respect for those who work honestly.”
A phrase that ignited the fire of controversy. Even though the coach later tried to tone it down, the damage was already done. His words bounced everywhere: social media, sports talk shows, newspapers. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has already announced that it will open an investigation into both Inzaghi’s statements and the refereeing of the Cagliari-Napoli match.
Napoli’s reaction
On the other hand, Napoli reacted firmly. President De Laurentiis called Inter’s accusations ” serious and unfounded ,” threatening legal action against anyone who ” questions the integrity of our club .”
Coach Calzona responded with a mixture of irony and annoyance: ” Inzaghi should think about his team, not us. If we won, it’s because we deserved it. “
Even the fans are divided. On one side, the Nerazzurri fans are crying scandal, asking for the match to be replayed or even for the title to be revoked. On the other, the Azzurri supporters are proudly claiming a hard-fought but legitimate success.
What do the experts say?
Several figures from the world of football have spoken out. Former international referee Luca Marelli commented on DAZN:
“The penalty awarded to Napoli is very questionable. There was contact, but it was minimal. In other cases it is not called. The VAR should have called the referee back to the monitor.”
Fabio Capello, a guest on Sky Calcio Club, said:
“Inzaghi’s reaction is understandable. After such a long and tiring season, losing because of a dubious episode hurts. But we must be careful with our words: insinuating fraud is a very serious accusation.”
The truth behind the scenes?
According to some rumors collected by journalists from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport , there would be private messages leaked between managers of Serie A clubs that would show a certain nervousness towards Napoli already weeks before. Nothing official, but enough to fuel the theory of an external “push” in favor of the Neapolitan team. However, at the moment, there is no concrete evidence.
What will happen now?
The FIGC has started an analysis of the key episodes of the last matchday and could decide to suspend the referee involved. In the meantime, Inter is considering an official appeal for “violation of sporting fairness”, even if the chances of success seem limited.
Meanwhile, the fans are left with a bitter taste in their mouths. The 2024/25 Scudetto will go down in history as one of the most discussed and controversial of recent years. And Italian football is wondering: was everything regular? Or is there really something rotten behind Napoli’s triumph?
