'He must be careful' - Napoli manager reacts to Victor Osimhen's red card

Published: August 22, 2021

Speaking at the post-match press conference after Napoli's 2-0 home win against Venezia on Sunday night, Blues manager Luciano Spalletti refused to complain about referee Gianluca Aureliano's decision to send off Victor Osimhen in the first half.

Osimhen and Benfica loanee Tyronne Ebuehi started the opening day fixture at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona but the striker didn't complete the first half after he was shown a red card in the 23rd minute.

Without consulting the video assistant referee, Aureliano independently took the decision to send off Osimhen as he was close to the incident.

Osimhen took the walk of shame for struggling vehemently with his marker Venezia midfielder Daan Heymans in a corner kick situation, the Super Eagle waved his arm and hit the opponent in the face.

"Osimhen's expulsion? He has to be careful of his emotional reactions. He is a strong attacker and all the defenders will try to help themselves by limiting his physical exuberance," Spalletti was quoted as saying by ilnapolista.it.

"He will always have his hands on the defenders. He must be careful. The referee was very correct when he explained to me what he saw."

Osimhen will certainly miss Napoli's next match with Genoa next Sunday and could be banned for at least one more match if the incident involving him and Heymans is deemed to be violent conduct.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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