12.01.2015 00:01 h

Napoli chief blasts ref after Juve defeat

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis lashed out on Sunday claiming Juventus are given favourable treatment by Serie A referees after his side's 3-1 defeat to the defending champions.

A pair of stunning strikes from Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal and Martin Caceres's first Serie A goal in over two years sent Juventus three points clear of Roma on following a 3-1 win away to Napoli.

Napoli, who scored their solitary goal thanks to Miguel Britos in the 64th minute, remain fourth in the table, 13 points off the pace and one point behind Lazio in the third and last Champions League qualifying place.

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini looked marginally offside when Andrea Pirlo whipped in a cross from which Caceres restored the visitors' lead on 69 minutes.

After the match, De Laurentiis hit out on Twitter: "We're tired of this! Juve are a strong side... but if they are helped by the referees they become unbeatable.

"It is inadmissable that with six officials none of them notice players being offside. Either they do it in bad faith or they are incompetent. These six officials should be sidelined for a long time."

It is not the first time this season that Juve, Italy's record 30-time champions who were stripped of two titles for their role in a match-fixing affair, have been accused of earning favours from top officials.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia launched similar accusations at the start of the season after a controversial defeat to the champions in Turin.

But Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri played down the claims: "Mistakes happen... coaches, players and presidents make them so why shouldn't referees?

"It's disappointing to see someone trying to stir up trouble after such a great match. But this is Italy, and nobody accepts defeat or decisions."