Napoli boss Antonio Conte risks ban as referees demand strong punishment for Inter outburst
The referees want to throw the book at the Napoli boss.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 13 January 2026
Antonio Conte is facing a touchline ban after a furious reaction during Napoli’s 2-2 draw away to Inter.
Italian referees’ chiefs reportedly want a “strong” response to his behaviour, with a heavy suspension now being discussed.
Conte was sent off in Sunday night’s game at San Siro after Inter were awarded a second-half penalty following a VAR review.
The Napoli coach protested aggressively, and the incident has quickly become one of the biggest talking points of matchweek 20.
What happened with Antonio Conte at San Siro
Referee Daniele Doveri originally missed the key moment, but VAR sent him to the pitchside monitor for a second look.
After the review, Doveri gave Inter a penalty for a foul by Amir Rrahmani on Henrikh Mkhitaryan, which Hakan Calhanoglu scored.
The reaction from Antonio Conte went beyond complaints. He kicked a bottle and angrily confronted the fourth official as the decision was announced.
He was shown a red card, but continued shouting while leaving the technical area, as Napoli players tried to refocus and chase the game.
Scott McTominay then scored twice for Napoli, including a late equaliser, to earn his side a point.
Antonio Conte was shown a red during Napoli vs. Inter 🟥 pic.twitter.com/kNUj9FwI4K
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 11, 2026
Gazzetta dello Sport have now reported that Italy’s refereeing top brass actually lauded Doveri’s display.
His performance was reportedly deemed ‘excellent’ and appreciated for his match management and total control.
What next for Antonio Conte and Napoli
Meanwhile, Il Corriere della Sera claims the refereeing authorities are furious about Antonio Conte’s protests.
According to them, the Napoli coach went too far, shouting “shame on you all” in the face of fourth official Andrea Colombo.
For this reason, they reportedly hope for an exemplary sentence, complete with a heavy fine.
The decision will be up to the Sports Judge, whose decisions will be made known on Tuesday, January 13.
Conte risks a two-match suspension while Napoli hope it will be just one match, as was the case with Massimiliano Allegri against Bologna in September.
However, there’s also the risk of a three-match ban, which would see Conte miss the match against Juventus.
The television images and the match report, defined as substantial, will be decisive.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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