Marino Appeal Zalayeta Diving Suspension
Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino has revealed the club will appeal the decision to ban Marcelo Zalayeta for the penalty diving incident against Juventus and says the Partenopei deserved to win at least 2-1.
The Uruguayan forward appeared to clearly dive over the outstretched hand of Gianluigi Buffon during Saturday’s game at San Paolo, but incredibly the referee awarded a penalty.
Maurizio Domizzi converted his second controversial spot-kick of the evening to give Napoli an historic 3-1 win.
Zalayeta was yesterday suspended for two games by the disciplinary commission for ‘simulation’ and is set to sit out the matches with Fiorentina and Reggina.
However Marino insists that new video evidence shows that Juve stopper Nicola Legrottaglie pulled Zalayeta’s shirt before he went down.
“Zalayeta did not dive,” said a furious Marino. “He simply jumped over Buffon to avoid both of them getting hurt.
“The video images change a lot of things. Zalayeta should not have been punished and Napoli deserved to win at least by two goals to one.”
Goal.com
