Juventus’s whining about poor refereeing a case of what goes around, comes around
It’s a classic case of the biter bit, or to put it another way, what goes around, comes around. The Italian league’s refereeing problems have been no secret this season. The match-fixing scandal of a couple of seasons ago saw several refs walk the plank and the officiating has been uneven, to say the least, in Serie A this season.
It’s a classic case of the biter bit, or to put it another way, what goes around, comes around. The Italian league’s refereeing problems have been no secret this season. The match-fixing scandal of a couple of seasons ago saw several refs walk the plank and the officiating has been uneven, to say the least, in Serie A this season.
Already, fans and the media have suggested Inter Milan has been the recipient of several dubious decisions in games this season and there have been calls for the league to import non-Italians to referee some games.
But the crowning touch came last week when Juventus sent a letter to the Italian soccer federation and the referees’ association demanding steps be taken to improve the officiating. The letter came after Juventus lost 2-1 at Reggina last weekend. The winning goal came on a debatable penalty call, and Juventus had three strong appeals for penalties refused by the referee.
“Juventus again asks the federation to take immediate action to clean up a seriously compromised situation,” said the letter, which was published on the Turin club’s website. “We need to rediscover faith in referees and reinvigorate Italian soccer.”
Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri joined in the clamour about referee Paolo Dondarini’s decisions. “I don’t want to go into the merits of all Dondarini’s decisions, but the lack of justice leaves you speechless and perplexed,” the Juventus coach told Italian TV after the match.
To the unbiased observer, Juventus’s holier-than-thou attitude is bound to raise a few chuckles. The team is back in Serie A this season after spending the 2006-07 campaign in Serie B, where it was banished after being fingered as the chief culprit in the match-fixing scandal, known in Italian as calciopoli.
HANDBALL BY FELIPE MELO. PENALTY DENIED AGAINST INTER
“In the course of this season and last, Juventus has always tried to defuse tension with referees … accepting decisions with fair play, even controversial ones,” the letter said.
Apparently, losing to lowly Reggina was a step too far for the Italian giants.
“In the light of what happened at Reggio Calabria, however, it is an attitude we must reconsider,” said the letter, signed by team president Giovanni Cobolli-Gigli and general manager Jean-Claude Blanc.
“Again in the course of this season, Juventus has been damaged in an irreversible way by a decision of the referee. Some decisions by the referees are confirming the doubts raised by more than a few people that there is not a relaxed and adequate approach toward Juventus, considering the serious and professional way the club and team is behaving.
Del Piero was tripped by himself and it was outside of the PK area.
“What is certain is that Juventus cannot keep paying for something (for which) it has already paid a severe price. The club is lifting itself back up from that, thanks to the passion of its fans, who legitimately ask for respect.”
Juventus’s heartfelt plea was greeted with more than a little scoffing and some crocodile tears from its rivals.
“I am convinced that this will just put more pressure on the referees and make them more nervous,” said Inter Milan director Ernesto Paolillo. “Every team suffers from refereeing errors sooner or later, but it can be attributed to bad teething problems for new officials, rather than anything sinister, like in the past.”
Juventus’s city rival, Torino, didn’t have much sympathy for its rival’s whining, especially as it came just ahead of a derby game between the teams Saturday.
Nice control with his arm by Zalayeta, he shoots, ball doesn’t cross the line but heyyy, no problem, Juventus goal.
“Poor Juve, having to be treated like everyone else,” said a statement from Torino fans’ group Toro Club. “For 100 years, their millions of fans have been above all the rules, and then suddenly, they have suffered like everyone else has against them.
“Juve has its reasons, but it’s the same for everyone.”
Fortunately, Tuesday’s game between Juventus and Torino passed largely without incident as the clubs played to a scoreless draw. Juventus midfielder Petr Nedved was sent off late in the game, but there were no complaints about the decision.
We’ll give the last word to Genoa president Enrico Preziosi: “For me, the letter is tactless,” he said. “If they want to moan, then what should we do? If Juve wrote a letter, then Genoa should write a book.”
Source: By The Gazette (Montreal)
