Genoa fury at referee after controversial De Bruyne goal: 'All of Italy saw'
Quick summary
Genoa voiced strong anger at the officiating following a controversial Kevin De Bruyne goal, with club figures claiming the decision was visibly wrong.
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Attributed to original sourceGenoa director Diego Lopez claims they expected refereeing controversy in their 2-0 defeat to Napoli . ‘All of Italy saw what happened today’ in the controversial Kevin De Bruyne goal.
The game was still 0-0 at Marassi when Johan Vasquez stood in front of De Bruyne to shield the loose ball, but the defender went down when nudged from behind, allowing the Belgian to fire in undisturbed from seven yards.
Referee Marco Di Bello had a good view of the incident, put the whistle to his lips, and then took it out again when he saw the move was leading to a goal.
It was evaluated by VAR, who decided not to recommend an On-Field Review, as it was not considered to be a clear and obvious error.
Soon after, De Bruyne set up Antonio Vergara to score the second goal, as Napoli ran out 2-0 winners over Genoa.
Genoa rage at referee Di Bello GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) “All of Italy saw what happened today,” Chief of Football Lopez told Sky Sport Italia and DAZN Italia.
“This referee was also in the VAR booth last season in the game against Napoli, so naturally when we heard he had been assigned to this match, we were worried.
“Last season it was 2-2 until the last minute and Napoli were awarded a penalty. He was also in Roma-Genoa, where our goalkeeper was hit in the face during a goal. Both times, the referees later acknowledged these were errors in Open VAR.”
Open VAR is the DAZN programme where the representatives of the referees’ association evaluate and explain the decisions made in the most recent Serie A matches, acknowledging when there were mistakes.
GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Leo Ostigard of Genoa controls the ball under pressure from Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) “Fortunately, there are cameras, so all of Italy saw that there was a clear push on Vasquez to create the opportunity for Napoli to score. The referee saw it and decided not to blow his whistle, then the referee decided not to view it again.
“We tried to calm the players, because they knew Genoa had already suffered two recognised errors at the hands of this referee. We know that officials are human and can make mistakes, but all of Italy saw what happened today.”
In the opening day of the Serie A season, there are already clashes over the refereeing, even though the officials had warned they wanted VAR to intervene only for clear and obvious errors.
The incident was hotly debated in the various television studios too, with some feeling De Bruyne had fouled Vasquez, others insisting the defender had tried to draw the contact and was not actively attempting to clear the ball.
It was ultimately evaluated on the field by the referee, and did not meet the criteria for clear and obvious error.
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What happened
Genoa publicly attacked the referee's decision to allow a Kevin De Bruyne goal in their Serie A fixture against Napoli, with club representatives insisting the error was clear to everyone watching. The controversy has reignited debate over officiating standards in Italian football. Genoa are understood to be considering an official complaint, while the goal has significant implications for the match result and potentially for the referee's future appointments.
Chance analysis
When a club goes public with complaints as pointed as Genoa's, it usually signals more than frustration with a single moment — it points to deeper dissatisfaction with how their matches are being overseen. De Bruyne's goal could prove pivotal in a tight Serie A race, and Genoa's willingness to escalate publicly suggests they see the result as materially unfair rather than simply disappointing. The incident also puts pressure on the Italian refereeing body, which has faced repeated criticism this season.
Genoa face a likely points deduction threat if their protest escalates, while Napoli benefit from the goal standing and gain momentum from a contentious away result.