Napoli could field youth side in Coppa Italia clash


Napoli are threatening to play their youth team in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus in protest at first-leg refereeing decisions.

Napoli lost 3-1 in Turin on Tuesday night after Juventus striker Paulo Dybala scored two second-half penalties.

The Naples club's director Cristian Giuntoli described the performance of the referee Paolo Valeri as "shameful and damaging to all Italian football".

Valeri awarded the hosts a penalty at the start of the second half after apparent contact between Dybala and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

He awarded Juventus another penalty when they were leading 2-1 after former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina brought down ex-Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado.

Napoli feel television replays proved Reina touched the ball before the Colombia winger was upended.

They also believe they should have been awarded a penalty seconds earlier when Raul Albiol went down in the opposition's penalty area.

The second leg in Naples is live on Sky Sports 2, on Wednesday, April 5 at 7.45pm.

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