Napoli 3-1 Inter Milan – Backstory How Antonio Conte Provoked Lautaro & Dumfries

During a Serie A match on Saturday, Napoli head coach Antonio Conte was involved in a minor exchange with Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries near the touchline. According to reports from DAZN via FCInter1908, Conte attempted to provoke the Dutch wingback, escalating tensions between the two.

The game itself was marked by controversy, as Napoli ended their four-game winless run against Inter under disputed circumstances. Referee Maurizio Mariani came under fire for awarding Napoli a penalty in the first half that was widely criticized as non-existent, which ultimately shifted the balance in favor of the home side and handed Inter their first defeat since mid-September.

As the match drew to a close, tensions heightened further when Conte accused Dumfries of diving, reportedly telling him, "Stay on your feet. You threw yourself down, didn’t you?" In response, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez intervened to defend his teammate, leading to a heated altercation between Martinez and Conte, despite their previous collaboration at Inter. The confrontation involved raised voices and exchanged gestures.

Officials eventually stepped in to de-escalate the situation and restore calm on the pitch.