Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is facing potential disciplinary action from UEFA following an altercation with a cameraman during an interview with Napoli forward Matteo Politano. The incident took place on the eve of Napoli's Champions League round-of-16 second leg match against Barcelona.
De Laurentiis interrupted the live interview being conducted by an Italian television station, expressing his displeasure with the media outlet. He directed Politano to stop speaking with the interviewer and proceeded to hurl insults before physically pushing the cameraman, causing him to step back to maintain his balance.
Reports suggest that De Laurentiis has imposed restrictions on which journalists are allowed to interview Napoli players, insisting on interviews only with Neapolitans or those who support the club. This incident has sparked criticism from the media, with the channel director condemning the behavior and reaffirming their commitment to professionalism and accuracy in reporting.
De Laurentiis has previously implemented media blackouts and restrictions on press interactions, including banning the team from speaking to certain broadcasters. This latest incident adds to a series of confrontations between the Napoli president and the media.
Napoli are set to face Barcelona in the return leg of the round of 16, with the tie finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg. The match comes amidst a turbulent season for Napoli, which has seen multiple coaching changes and internal challenges within the club.
