Sports judge fines Lautaro €1,500, clears him over Marín elbow

Inter-Napoli was not shown on Rai. Like the rest of Serie A, Saturday's 3-2 at San Siro was broadcast only by Dazn and Sky. The real news came on Tuesday 8 September from Sports Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea, who published the disciplinary rulings from matchday three — centred on Lautaro Martinez, one of the night's protagonists with a brace.

What did not arrive was any punishment for the heavier moment of his night. Late in the second half, already booked, Martinez struck Rafa Marín in the stomach with an elbow, unseen by Sozza and not reviewed by the VAR. The Sports Judge did not sanction him retrospectively either: no ban, no referral. Had he been sent off on the pitch, or punished now, Martinez would have missed Inter's next league game, away to Udinese, under head coach Cristian Chivu.

One weight, two measures

It is the contrast that leaves a sour taste: shout in protest and pay €1,500; elbow an opponent in the stomach and pay nothing. It adds to the rest of the San Siro talking points — a possible handball by Lobotka, contact between Pio Esposito and Rrahmani, both already analysed on Dazn by pundit Luca Marelli — in a weekend read two different ways across Italy, with Tuttosport running a headline saying the Argentine should have been "sent off twice". Napoli, who led 2-0 through Politano and Höjlund before being pegged back, are left with this too: the feeling of having matched Inter and come away with nothing, on the disciplinary front as well.

For Napoli, the league now waits until 13 September, when Bologna visit the Maradona. First comes the Champions League, on Wednesday 9 September evening, with the opening game against Arsenal. But the account left open at San Siro — three points, and now an elbow without consequences — remains there, a reminder of how wide the gap was between what Napoli built that night and what they took home.