In a country where conspiracy theories are a national pastime, last weekend's events in Italy's Serie A seem certain to set us up for a week of polemics as leaders Juventus and second-placed Lazio take their title battle right down to the wire. At the centre of attention, in an overheated atmosphere of suspicion and recrimination, is last Sunday's controversial 1-0 home win by leaders Juventus against Parma. Juventus won the game thanks to a 60th minute goal from Alessandro Del Piero but the match will long be remembered for a 91st minute Parma equaliser, inexplicably overruled by referee Massimo De Sanctis. Had the Parma goal been allowed, Juventus and Lazio would be heading into the last day of the season next Sunday level on points.
Instead, Juventus remain two points clear of Lazio, who beat Bologna 3-2 away. Next Sunday, both sides appear to have "easy" games, with Juventus away to Perugia and Lazio at home to Reggina. Juve's potentially decisive win against Parma inevitably prompted angry reactions, not only from the Lazio and Parma camps but also from commentators like ex-Lazio player Giorgio Chinaglia, who spoke of the championship "losing credibility". The point was underlined by Parma defender Fabio Cannavaro, scorer of the disallowed goal. "There will be shadows (of doubt) over Juve's title, my goal was valid. If I was a Lazio player I'd have to think that someone always gives Juventus a helping hand," said Cannavaro.
Lazio boss Sergio Cragnotti, arguing that his club were the "moral victors" of the title, promised to take action at Italian Federation and League level. "I'm proud to be the boss of Lazio. Other clubs keep on winning the title year after year but my club, on the field, has proved itself the best in Italy over the last two seasons. We even proved it in the direct clash with Juventus (Lazio won 1-0 in Turin last month).
"Yet again, sporting fair play has gone missing. A lot of work will have to be done at League and Federation level because it is simply not acceptable that you invest millions in soccer and then find yourself face to face with certain suspicious incidents." Match referee De Sanctis did little to cool the atmosphere when telling the ANSA news agency that he had whistled before Cannavaro headed home his equaliser. Endless slowmotion re-runs of the "goal" showed, however, that the referee had whistled after Cannavaro had headed the ball, but before it entered the Juventus net.
On television on Sunday night Juventus director Luciano Moggi defended his club arguing that Juventus had also suffered from unfavourable refereeing decisions. Moggi also pointed out, and his accusation was confirmed by replays, that the corner kick from which Cannavaro scored his disallowed goal should have been a goal kick to Juventus rather than a corner to Parma.
Despite Moggi's protestations, however, many Italian football fans are likely to remain sceptical. Rome sports daily, Corriere Dello Sport, probably spoke for many, Lazio fans and non, with a front page, banner headline yesterday, reading: "I'm sorry to say it, but this is a scandal".
Paddy Agnew can be contacted at pagnew@aconet.it
