Key Takeaways:
- Napoli alleged that Massimiliano Allegri verbally insulted staff member Gabriele Oriali during last night’s Supercoppa Italiana semi-final in Riyadh
- Napoli defeated AC Milan 2-0 with goals from David Neres and loanee Rasmus Hojlund, progressing to the final
- Both sides were involved in contentious incidents late on, with yellow cards shown and coaching staff embroiled in a heated exchange
Napoli Level Accusations Against Allegri
SSC Napoli issued a forceful statement this morning, accusing AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri of a serious verbal attack on their staff member, Gabriele Oriali, during last night’s Italian Super Cup semi-final in Riyadh. According to Napoli, Allegri “severely insulted” Oriali using “offensive language”, prompting the club to firmly denounce his actions.
The club’s statement, released the day after the fixture, said: “SSC Napoli firmly condemns the behavior of AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, who, during the Italian Super Cup semi-final, in the presence of dozens of people pitchside and on live television, repeatedly and severely insulted Gabriele Oriali with offensive language.
‼️STATEMENT from the club:
"SSC Napoli firmly condemns the behavior of AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri who, during the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal, in front of dozens of people on the touchline and live on television, repeatedly and heavily insulted Gabriele Oriali with… pic.twitter.com/g6msqAqQLO
— Napoli Zone (@TheNapoliZone) December 19, 2025
“We hope this completely out of control attack does not go unnoticed, especially since, with 33 cameras involved in the event’s production, it is impossible not to witness what happened.”
Neither AC Milan nor Allegri have commented publicly on Napoli’s allegations.
High-Stakes Encounter: Napoli Secure Final Place
Napoli faced their rivals AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final in Riyadh, coming away with a 2-0 victory. Antonio Conte’s men secured the win courtesy of goals from David Neres and Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund. The result sees Napoli progress to the final, where they will take on either Inter Milan or Bologna, who are set to contest the other semi-final this evening.
| Date | Fixture | Score | Goalscorers | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last night | Napoli v AC Milan | 2-0 | David Neres, Rasmus Hojlund | Riyadh |
Controversy on the Pitch and in the Dugout
The match was marked by a series of confrontations towards the close of play. In the 82nd minute, Scott McTominay was penalised for a heavy challenge on Christopher Nkunku, and play was halted. Despite this, Fikayo Tomori kicked the ball away and collided with McTominay, leading to a heated exchange. The midfielder, aged 29, took exception and retaliated, sparking a melee involving players from both squads. Both McTominay and Tomori received yellow cards after order was restored.
Further tensions arose on the touchline in the 89th minute, when Massimiliano Allegri and Gabriele Oriali exchanged words. Italian broadcaster Sportmediaset released video footage of the incident, in which Allegri is accused of delivering “severely insulting” language towards Oriali.
The fractious contest concluded with Napoli’s 2-0 win, and notably, the two managers did not shake hands at the final whistle.
Oriali’s Background and Role at Napoli
Gabriele Oriali, aged 73, is a former Inter player with 28 caps for the Italian national side. After his playing career, Oriali worked as Inter’s technical director from 1999 to 2010 and again between 2019 and 2021. In 2024, he joined the Napoli set-up as sports coordinator, collaborating closely with manager Antonio Conte, as he did during last night’s fixture.
Next Steps in Riyadh
Napoli, having secured their place in the final, will now await the outcome of the second semi-final clash between Inter and Bologna, taking place in Riyadh later this evening.
