Orsato's guidance on De Bruyne-Vasquez contact sparks debate

The De Bruyne‑Vasquez contact in the Genoa‑Napoli clash on the opening matchday proved decisive, unlocking the game and delivering a late victory for Napoli, while referee designator Daniele Orsato, seated in the stands, later clarified the incident’s classification in a match that sparked extensive debate among officials and analysts.

Ha fatto tanto discutere alla prima giornata il contatto De Bruyne‑Vasquez in Genoa‑Napoli, decisivo per sbloccare la partita e portare la vittoria al Napoli nei minuti finali. According to the referee’s designator, the contact involved De Bruyne’s right arm on Vasquez’s back, not a foul.

Orsato clarifies the contact

Daniele Orsato told a journalist from Genoa that “De Bruyne non apre gomito, non è fallo ma contatto di gioco”. He emphasized that the incident should be judged as a normal play contact rather than a handball or foul. The designator’s explanation was relayed on X by colleague Marco Giordano.

VAR operates under new guidance

The VAR team cannot intervene on this type of contact following the new directives issued by Orsato. This procedural change raises the threshold for VAR reviews compared with previous seasons.

Analysts weigh in on the decision

Luca Marelli, analyst, described the episode as “an episode on which there will be much discussion”. He noted that De Bruyne’s right arm pressed on Vasquez’s back, creating a clear push that was not a low‑leg contact, and questioned whether Di Bello had seen the push correctly from his position. Marelli added that the higher VAR bar this year makes it harder to award an OFR for such incidents.

Potential AIA statement

Stampa A− A+ reported that an official AIA declaration could arrive in the coming days, using the De Bruyne‑Vasquez contatto as an example for referees in the new season, with the aim of bringing Italian football to a more European level.