Calciopoli & Scommessopoli In English

[Socrates 7962]

Agnelli: Conte's ban remains an injustice

The Bianconeri supremo was not impressed with the decision to reduce Conte's ban,

and feels the coach should have been acquitted instead.

Oct 6, 2012

Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has voiced his dismay with TNAS' decision not to fully acquit head coach Antonio Conte.

The former Siena boss saw his suspension for failing to report two instances of match-fixing reduced from 10 to four months on Friday, but Agnelli feels Conte should not have been banned at all.

"The confirmation of his suspension is an injustice which should prompt the entire footballing system to ask itself questions," an official statement reads.

"I maintain my view, which is shared by everyone at Juventus, that Antonio Conte is an innocent man and in no way guilty of the charges levelled at him.

"After so much has been written and said about this issue, the appropriate sporting bodies must proceed with a far-reaching reform of the sporting justice system, so it can avoid perilous inconsistencies – in terms of the length and severity of sanctions – the likes of which have occurred over the last few years."

Conte will be able to return to the Juve bench for the clash with Palermo on December 9, one day after his ban expires.

[Socrates 7962]

Conte's ban reduction is a compromise with no winners

Juventus coach has had his 10-month suspension reduced, but the whole case

has demonstrated the ineffectiveness of a system that cannot be adjusted, reformed or fixed.

Oct 6, 2012

COMMENT

By Sergio Stanco

After the original accusation came the four-month plea bargain; the supposed desire to keep the whole case out of the courtroom. When that was dismissed, there was a 10-month suspension. Eventually, we now come back to square one, with Antonio Conte seeing his touchline ban reduced by six months. Juventus will have their coach back on the bench from December 9 in Palermo, but who wins? Does anyone, really?

If Conte believed he was innocent from the start, surely he could have pleaded as such. He could have gone to the breach, made a fuss, ensured that his clean name was upheld and his innocence proven. Instead, he is at a halfway house. He risked so much by appearing to accept that he was in some way complicit in the match-fixing at Siena, and as a result he was never going to be completely cleared of the charge.

But what of the evidence? The repentant declarations were like clockwork, the vendetta of someone who remained on the ball and never hid. One man can wake up one morning with a bad mood and the desire to settle a score and have you publicly disgraced. And when you finish in the media meat-grinder, with your face printed large across the front pages, how do you defend yourself? You don't even get the time to read the cards, you simply have to attempt to save your ass or risk taking the brunt with a plea bargain. The decision in this case was to take the lesser evil. Those who are innocent do not do deals with the devil, they say. But it is all well and good for them who are not in your shoes. This was the path Conte followed.

One man can wake up one morning with a bad mood and the desire to settle a score and have you publicly disgraced.

Forced to fight, is it not your job to fight? If you did it on the pitch, and you do it on the bench, how much do you do it off the field? An indomitable lion should demonstrate his qualities. Conte took the fall under the accusations, but his desire to return sooner rather than later took the case to TNAS. Evidence was supplied to show that the then-Siena coach did not deliberately leave out Salvatore Mastronunzio, with medical certificates proving the striker was injured. This had been a key point in the earlier decision, and so we returned full circle, with the ban reduced to four months.

It does not take a legal professional to understand that this whole episode has been handled with the improvisation of a beginner, that the affair - if it were not so serious - would have the after taste of a Kafkaesque, almost comical situation, that - from whichever standpoint - demonstrates the inefficiency of a system that cannot be regulated, reformed, or turned on its head. The absurd thing is that the whole case leaves everyone dissatisfied: the accuser, the accused, and the whole gallery.

The absurd thing is that the whole story leaves everyone dissatisfied: the accuser, the accused, and the whole gallery.

Even the judges seem to have found a way to get out of it without making a decision. The final verdict is a thinly-veiled attempt to have it both ways. When in doubt, and in this case there seemed to be little of anything else, they have decided to save only their own bacon. We do not know whether Conte is guilty or innocent and we will now never know, with this judgement leaving a gap between the charge and the defence disgracefully unfilled. The fact is that everyone is left to feel as though the judges did not have a clue as to whether the coach was innocent either. And that should have been enough to acquit him.

But this is sporting justice, they say. Which all means we must hurry to reform it, because otherwise we will not even get a whiff of justice - in any case - for the forseeable future. And this - Conte or no Conte - is the one thing that we do know at the end of this whole regretful episode.

[Socrates 7962]

Agnelli: 'No Calciopoli evidence'

Oct 11, 2012

Juventus President Andrea Agnelli has reaffirmed Antonio Conte’s innocence in the betting trial and insists “there was not a single shred of evidence” in Calciopoli.

The patron has already spoken out in favour of Conte after his 10-month ban was reduced to four on appeal for failing to report a potential fix to the authorities while he was at Siena.

“It took me just two minutes with Conte to understand his innocence,” said Agnelli at a Leaders in Football meeting at Stamford Bridge.

However, he also looked back at the 2006 trial that saw Juventus demoted to Serie B and stripped of two Scudetti.

“The conclusions were based on speculation. There was not a single shred of evidence against us. The decision was based on Article 1, relative to sporting behaviour.

“The conclusion was that if you behave in an anti-sporting manner three times, then it counts as sporting fraud, but there was no proof. It was all speculation.

“There is a court of justice that ruled the 2005-06 season was not influenced in any way and another court ruled that the previous season was never under investigation.”

Juve and then-director Luciano Moggi maintained they were not running a cabal aimed to influence referees, but that every club was contacting officials in roughly the same way.

[Socrates 7962]

Alessio ban cut by TNAS

Oct 12, 2012

Juventus assistant boss Angelo Alessio will be free to sit on the bench when Serie A resumes after he had his ban slashed.

Alessio, like Coach Antonio Conte, was suspended from match-day duties after he was found guilty of failing to report an alleged attempt to fix a game while they were at Siena.

Alessio took his case to the TNAS appeal court in a bid to be acquitted of the charge, but he was only able to get his six-month suspension reduced.

He will now be banned until October 15, so he will therefore be available for the October 20 tie versus Napoli.

Conte will return to the bench on December 9 against Palermo.

[Socrates 7962]

Angelo Alessio has match-fixing ban reduced

Juventus' assistant coach has his penalty shortened even further

and will be available for their side's crunch match against the Partenopei.

Oct 12, 2012

Juventus' assistant coach Angelo Alessio has had his match-fixing ban reduced from six to two months meaning he will be able return to the bench for the Bianconeri's next match against Napoli.

The 47-year-old orignially faced an eight-month ban but was shortened to six on appeal but now this has been reduced further resulting Alessio being able to be involved in the top of the table clash after the international break.

The Italian's sporting arbitration court, the TNA's, took the decision on Friday, only a week after Juventus coach Antonio Conte has his own 10-month ban reduced to four.

Both their bans were of the result of not reporting alleged match-fixing while at Siena two years ago.

Massimo Carrera, another member of the Juventus backroom staff, continues to oversee the Bianconeri's long unbeaten record and has them top of Serie A currently.

[Socrates 7962]

Alessio 'expected to be cleared'

Oct 13, 2012

Angelo Alessio will be on the Juventus bench against Napoli after his ban was reduced, but the assistant manager “expected to be cleared.”

Alessio was working with Coach Antonio Conte at Siena in Serie B when the events in the betting scandal occurred and he too had his ban reduced on appeal this week.

It means Alessio will be able to sit on the bench for next Saturday’s Scudetto showdown with Napoli, replacing previous stand-in Massimo Carrera.

“We expected him to be cleared of all charges,” lawyer Luigi Chiappero told Radio Sportiva.

“The evidence shows that Alessio, who by the way was never even interrogated, is innocent. The fact he has almost already completed the ban allows us to view the TNAS tribunal sentence as a sort of posthumous clearance.”

Alessio is accused of not alerting to authorities rumours of a potential fix in Albinoleffe-Siena.

“My client is not happy. He is and always declared himself to be innocent and expected to be cleared. It is a strange situation, as there is no direct accusation towards him.

“The sporting justice system does not work, as the approach is guilty until proven innocent and that makes it very difficult to be cleared.

“Now Angelo will try to look ahead, but these are moments of pain that you cannot easily wipe away.”

Carrera’s ‘era’ on the Juventus bench ends with seven wins and three draws, including the Italian Super Cup.

[Socrates 7962]

Moratti: It is hard to negatively judge Italian sporting justice

The Inter chief disagrees with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli that

the system needs rigorous changes and doesn't work properly.

Oct 15, 2012

Inter president Massimo Moratti believes there is no need to reform Italian sporting justice as he believes the system works fine as it is.

Juventus supremo Andrea Agnelli stated earlier this month that the system needs rigorous changes after Antonio Conte's suspension (for failing to report two instances of match fixing during his spell in charge of Siena) was only reduced from 10 to four months rather than overturned all together.

Nevertheless, Agnelli's Inter counterpart sees no reason to change the way the system works.

"I think it’s hard to negatively judge sporting justice. I believe that sporting justice works an overwhelming amount of the time," Moratti told Rai Uno.

"The situation with Conte? Let’s not stir up controversy, because there’s always someone who believes he’s right.

"Every day, unfortunately, we read things that show us that these people must face, and have faced, very serious problems."

We are still waiting for our scudetti you got from your best friend Guido Rossi, mr. Moratti.

It's time we get real justice!

[Socrates 7962]

Kutuzov: I never accused Conte

The former Bari forward has claimed the Italian press have made up a story

about the current Juventus trainer and he had no idea about the match-fixing of 2009.

Oct 23, 2012

Belarus striker Vitali Kutuzov has revealed he never accused Antonio Conte of match-fixing after it became clear the Juventus boss may have known about a plan by his then, Bari side to lose their final match of the 2008/09 season.

Kutuzov was part of the team which accepted money to be defeated by Salernitana, and he explained that trainer Conte, who has already been found guilty of match-fixing this year, was not aware of the players' plans to perform badly as they chased promotion.

"Conte tried to motivate us until the last moment, until the last game," he told Antenna 3 radio show Lunedi di Rigore.

"He acted like a coach for whom the championship was not finished yet. He made compliments to us, saying 'we win the last game and then can celebrate.'"

The former Sampdoria forward has also explained that his friendship with his former coach has been ruined by the recent allegations and criticised the Italian press for the blame that is being attached to Conte.

He added: "I had a good relationship with Conte and now it's spoiled and do not know how to look him in the face. I can say he is a great coach and a great man, and I would call him and talk to him quietly, but it's difficult to talk to him.

"It's a story created to sell newspapers, it will eventually bring out Mr. Conte even stronger and more determined to never give up. In fact, when he ends his ban, he will not leave the field and will win the championship."

[Socrates 7962]

Lawyers claim Conte was misinterpreted

The Juventus coach's legal representatives say their client's

statement was unfairly dismissed by the courts.

Nov 17, 2012

Antonio Conte's lawyers have slammed the National Court for Sports Arbitration (TNAS) for issuing him with a touchline suspension for his alleged misconduct in the Scommessopoli scandal.

The 43-year-old was initially handed a 10-month ban in August after being charged with failing to report two instances of match-fixing while in charge of Siena.

His sentence was later reduced to four months, but Giulia Bongiorno, Luigi Chiappero and Antonio De Rensis - Conte's lawyers - have now suggested their client's statement, made in a meeting with FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi, was not taken into account.

A statement on the club's official website read: "The sentence passed by TNAS charges Antonio Conte with having been informed by Cristian Stellini on March 8, 2012 of the offence committed by the players in the match between Albinoleffe and Siena.

"Therefore, according to the CONI [italian National Olympic Committee], Conte's failure to report the matter began at least on that date.

"Clearly the members of the arbitration tribunal did not give due consideration to the statement made by Antonio Conte on July 13, 2012.

"His statement proved Stellini never informed Conte about any agreements to fix the reverse fixture between Albinoleffe and Siena, he merely reported what had happened in the Siena dressing room after the game.

"A simple observation - after the false accusation regarding Siena v Novara, after falsely affirming that Mastronunzio had been dropped from the squad for illicit reasons, and no longer able to use Carobbio's statements, the TNAS charged Antonio Conte and his defence with an admission of responsibility which in fact never took place.

"This is a mistake which can no longer be rectified. Anyone who has the time and opportunity to read the records will be able to verify as much for themselves."

[Socrates 7962]

Juve respond to Moratti complaint

Nov 18, 2012

Juventus have taken an unusual step in replying to Massimo Moratti’s complaints about the referees – publishing a Calciopoli ruling.

The Inter President blasted officials for “penalising” his team over the last three games and suggested it was a familiar scenario to the one he experienced in Calciopoli.

The official Juventus website released a statement which only said: ‘No comment.’

Attached to the statement was a downloadable file outlining FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi’s July 2011 ruling that Inter were involved in the Calciopoli scandal, but could not be punished because the statute of limitations had expired.

[Socrates 7962]

Giraudo appeal in Calciopoli trial

Dec 5, 2012

The Calciopoli civil trial is still dragging on and today ex-Juventus general manager Antonio Giraudo had his sentence reduced to 20 months.

The Court of Appeal in the Naples tribunal gave its verdict this evening, cutting Giraudo’s sentence from three years to just a year and eight months suspended.

Giraudo had been convicted of sporting fraud and working with others to commit an offence.

However, former referees Paolo Dondarini, Tiziano Pieri and Tullio Lanese were all cleared.

“We are disappointed and at the same time surprised, as we didn’t expect this epilogue,” said Giraudo’s lawyer.

“We await the motivation for this sentence, which we will certainly appeal against. We want to reiterate our client’s complete innocence.”

Giraudo was a member of the so-called ‘Triade’ of directors at Juventus along with Luciano Moggi and Roberto Bettega.

[Socrates 7962]

Conte questioned on fixing again

Mar 12, 2013

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has been questioned again by the Italian soccer federation's prosecutor about a match fixing case.

Having already been suspended for four months at the start of this season for failing to report fixing when he coached Siena two years ago, Conte faces a possible similar charge stemming from when he managed Bari in 2008-09.

Court officials have been investigating Bari's matches with Treviso in May 2008 and Salernitana in May 2009. With little to gain, Bari lost both games, having already secured a mid-standings finish in 2008 and the Serie B title in 2009.

Conte, on course to guide Juventus to a second consecutive Serie A title, was accompanied by three lawyers for the meeting with prosecutor Stefano Palazzi.

Conte denies wrongdoing. Upon exiting the three-hour hearing, Conte said he ''absolutely'' is not worried about facing more punishment.

[Socrates 7962]

Deschamps to answer doping questions 'behind closed doors'

The France boss has been summoned to an enquiry into the use of banned substances,

with a particular emphasis on his time at Juventus in the 1990s.

Apr 24, 2013

Didier Deschamps has been granted permission to give his testimony to a French-senate led investigation into doping in football ‘behind closed doors’.

It was first reported earlier this month that the current France boss had been summoned to answer questions in relation to his time at Juventus as a player during the 1990s.

Most of those asked to provide evidence on alleged doping have done so before an open court, but Deschamps has been given special dispensation to testify in private.

Juve’s club doctor during his time at the club, Riccardo Agricola, was found guilty of sporting fraud in connection with the use of banned substances during the '90s in November 2004 but he was cleared on appeal a year later.

However, senator Jean-Jacques Lozach admitted that he is keen to hear Deschamps speak about his experiences in Turin.

"There is the story of the alleged doping at Juventus that interests us," he is quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

"We want to know if the fight against doping is a concern for the national team coach, but, above all, if the coach has proposals to make."

The 44-year-old called time on his playing career in 2001. He returned to Juve as coach in 2006.

[Socrates 7962]

Moggi Calciopoli sentence cut

Dec 17, 2013

Former Juventus director Luciano Moggi was given a sentence of two years and four months in the Calciopoli appeal trial.

http://markting10.nl/

Moggi had appealed against the original conviction of five years and four months, which was reduced considerably this evening by the Naples Tribunal looking at the 2004-05 season.

Ex-referee Massimo De Santis was given a one-year sentence and former refereeing designator Pierluigi Pairetto two years.

Moggi was found guilty of conspiring to commit a crime, as the earlier charge of sporting fraud passed the statute of limitations.

http://markting10.nl/

Other sentences include two years for ex-FIGC Vice-President Innocenzo Mazzini, 10 months for referees Antonio Dattilo and Paolo Bertini, all for sporting fraud.

Paolo Bergamo’s appeal has to be repeated due to a technicality, while Lazio President Claudio Lotito and Fiorentina patron Andrea Della Valle passed the statute of limitations.

Moggi was not present in the court when the verdict was read after nine hours of consultations between magistrates. His lawyers already announced an appeal to the third tier of the Italian justice system, the Cassazione, with “new evidence.”

http://markting10.nl/

It is extremely unlikely Moggi – who is now a media pundit – will actually spend any time in prison.

Moggi’s lawyers had argued he only had access to Swiss telephone SIM cards to avoid Inter spying on his calls when discussing transfers.

[Socrates 7962]

Moggi to take case to High Court

Dec 18, 2013

The solicitor of former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has vowed to clear his client's name as part of the match-fixing scandal which saw the Bianconeri relegated to Serie B in 2006.

http://markting10.nl/

Maurilio Prioreschi said he was not surprised to hear his appeal against a two-year and four-month prison sentence had failed on Monday. However, Moggi will not be admitted to jail until one last appeal has been heard, and Prioreschi has announced his intention of taking that step.

"We're certainly going to the High Court," Prioreschi said. "After all, this process was always going to end up there, and that is where it will be decided."

Prioreschi had presented new evidence to the Naples Court of Appeal, yet this did not alter the court's stance. Moggi has been sentenced to imprisonment for his part in manipulating the appointment of referees for Serie A matches.

http://markting10.nl/

He is also accused of asserting pressure on match officials to take certain action in games involving sides set to meet Juventus in their next match in an attempt to suspend their most important players for games against his own club.

Some of the referees who were also initially sentenced have since been absolved, furthering Prioreschi's belief that the whole case has become a farce with only his client now being held responsible.

http://markting10.nl/

Referring to a match between Udinese and Juventus, one of the games suspected of being manipulated, Prioreschi said: "Just think that all of the assistants of that game and the referee Rodomonti have now been absolved. So who manipulated that game? Moggi, [Juve's director of sport Antonio] Giraudo and [FIGC refereeing designator Paolo] Bergamo. Fine, so tell me how they did it.

"Who took to the field to manipulate that game? Father Christmas?"

[Socrates 7962]

Gasp: 'Calciopoli made Inter'

Jan 19, 2014

Gian Piero Gasperini reiterated his Calciopoli theory about Inter’s success as he faces his former club.

http://markting10.nl/

Gasperini lasted only a few weeks on the Nerazzurri bench before he was fired and faces his old club, but has stirred up controversy this week by suggesting they would not have won without the Calciopoli scandal removing Juventus from Serie A.

“Winning the Treble was extraordinary, but Inter only started winning after Calciopoli. That isn’t my opinion, it’s simply a fact,” reiterated Gasp in his Press conference.

http://markting10.nl/

“Inter’s turning point came with Calciopoli, which destroyed Juventus. Inter without that would have continued not to win.

“Then, after Mourinho, the trend is back to normal, but as a Coach [Rafa] Benitez [sacked midway through 2010-11] deserved credibility. And to me, then, they only gave me two months.”

[Socrates 7962]

Calciopoli judges slam Moggi

Mar 17, 2014

The judges in the Calciopoli civil trial ruled Luciano Moggi and others worked to damage the impartiality of referees.

AMAZONIAN

The ruling finding former Juventus director general Moggi guilty was released on December 17 in Naples, but the reasoning behind the decision was only published today.

Over 203 pages, the judges noted there was “multiple and articulate evidence” pointing to a crime having been committed.

Moggi was only part of the criminal enterprise along with former Juve director Antonio Giraudo, refereeing designator Paolo Bergamo and others.

AMAZONIAN

It was suggested “the light-hearted and apparently convivial tone used to reach agreements on who would officiate the individual games seems extremely serious in the light of the evident damage to impartiality that is essential for a referee, as a referee must in principle maintain equidistance between the opponents.”

It was written the tone of the conversations in the wiretapped phone calls were only apparently convivial, but in fact suggested “the hardness of the rapport between participants and the evident objective to take and maintain control.”

There was an entire chapter in the 203-page document on Moggi’s role within the affair, noting he had a “pre-eminent” position and was “unusually unscrupulous” in linking together various sections of the football world.

AMAZONIAN

“Moggi’s position appears certain and beyond doubt. He created the situation where he could have a truly abnormal influence in the Federation.”

He was accused of even influencing television programmes to have a harsher or kinder view of certain refereeing performances, while Moggi and Giraudo entering the locker rooms of referees and assistants caused particular shock.

AMAZONIAN

Moggi’s behaviour was “at the very least aggressive” in dealing with referee Gianluca Paparesta after a Reggina-Juventus match on November 7 2004, when he locked the official in his room.

Moggi has always maintained he was innocent, claiming various club representatives regularly phoned up the Federation and refereeing designator to complain about certain officials, but that only the Juventus wiretaps were put forward to investigators.

[Socrates 7962]

Former Juventus Star Zambrotta Airs Calciopoli Grievances

Nov 24, 2014

Despite incidents taking place nearly a decade ago, Gianluca Zambrotta has re-aired his grievances on the treatment of his former team, Juventus, and their involvement in Calciopoli.

The 2006 scandal recently resurged in the media spotlight due to ongoing arbitration between Juventus and Nike over a sponsorship agreement, with issues dating back to Juventus’ Calciopoli participation.

Speaking with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, the former Juventus defender claimed there was a focus on Juventus was due to their success at the time and that they were still being scrutinised because of their continued success since.

“There was controversy against the winning team,” he said, “and there still are against the same team that wins. When anything is discussed about Juventus, there is always controversy.”

“Nothing has changed,” the former Juventino insisted.

However, Zambrotta did not just comment on the on-going Juventus persecution complex, but he also spoke to more concrete aspects of the scandal including the use of wiretaps at the time.

“Juventus have been punished for their sins. [Luciano] Moggi was the main figure to be involved and he also accepted his punishment.” Zambrotta acknowledged, referring to Juventus’s former General Manger, who resigned due to the scandal.

However, the defender remained adamant that his former team deserved positive recognition for their performance at the time.

“We have always given everything on the field, no one came to tell us to not argue because we would have won anyway,” he maintains.

“We did not need the aid of referees, we were the strongest team and full of champions.”

Zambrotta left Juventus for Barcelona in the summer of 2006, when his former team was relegated to Serie B as punishment for their part in the scandal.

[Socrates 7962]

Tavecchio: ‘Juve have 32 Scudetti’

Nov 24, 2014

FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio says Juventus would have won the League without Calciopoli - ‘they have won 32 Scudetti’.

The Bianconeri were demoted to Serie B in 2006 after a scandal in which then-director Luciano Moggi was accused of holding too much influence over the selection of referees.

However, while Tavecchio says the Old Lady would have triumphed regardless, he maintains the verdict must be upheld.

“Juventus were clearly the strongest on the pitch,” the President told La Repubblica.

“They have won 32 Scudetti, the team did not steal anything and they wouldn’t have needed any hocus-pocus.

“I say this as an old Interista.

“However, the Calciopoli ruling, which sanctioned the behaviour of the club off the field, is the law and we’re here to enforce it.

“On March 23 the Supreme Court will have the final say on Calciopoli. Juve’s cause is reckless, and you’ll see, it’ll be the FIGC who claim damages.”

[Socrates 7962]

Ex-Juventus chief Moggi a free man
following final Calciopoli ruling

The former Juve chief's final appeal in the Court of Cassation saw him
cleared of two offences, while a third charge expired due to the statute of limitation.

Mar 24, 2015

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has had his prison sentence written off following his appeal against his role in the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.

Moggi had been sentenced to two years and four months in jail for sporting fraud and conspiracy, but took his appeals to the highest Italian court – the Court of Cassation.

Early on Tuesday morning, Moggi was acquitted on two charges of sporting fraud, while a charge of conspiracy expired due to the statute of limitations.

The Calciopoli scandal rocked Italian football in the summer of 2006 and led to Juventus being stripped of two Scudetti and relegated to Serie B.

Moggi was originally implicated as the mastermind of the scandal, with Juventus said to have enjoyed an exclusive relationship with referee designators.

The former director was also accused of bullying the transfer market through the GEA player agency, using a secret International SIM card system to communicate with referees and officials privately, as well as other offences such as locking a referee in a dressing room and offering gifts to officials. Moggi was cleared of all these offences.

The 77-year-old reacted to the verdict: "It took nine years to work out that the [2004-05 and 2005-06] seasons were handled fairly, the referee designations were fair and that there was no communication.

"This trial was conducted in an odd way, we joked around for nine years. This has been an unpleasant thing and it has all ended up in nothing."

Former Juventus CEO Antonio Giraudo, who was accused of fraud, also saw his prison sentence of one year and eight months written off due to the statute of limitations.

Fiorentina owners Andrea and Diego Della Valle and Lazio president Claudio Lotito saw appeals against sentences already ruled to have passed the statute of limitations rejected.

Ex-referees Paolo Bertini and Antonio Dattilo were acquitted, but another former Serie A official Massimo De Santis saw his appeal against a 10-month suspended sentence rejected.

Juventus are currently seeking €443 million in damages from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over lost revenue and the damage to their reputation as a result of Calciopoli.

[Socrates 7962]

Moggi: Calciopoli a gun without
ammunition and Juventus will act

The ex-Juventus chief is a free man following his final appeal on Tuesday
and he has spoken bitterly about the events of the last nine years.

Mar 24, 2015

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has branded the Calciopoli scandal a "gun without ammunition" after his prison sentence was written off on Tuesday.
Moggi, who served the Bianconeri for 12 years, was acquitted of two accusations of sporting fraud in Italy's highest court, while a third accusation of conspiracy expired due to the statute of limitations.

"In nine years they have found only a single referee guilty - [Massimo] De Santis - who did nothing wrong, anyway," Moggi told Mattino 5. "Calciopoli was a gun without ammunition, the evidence didn't exist – they were wrong.

"Who was in the system if all the referees were acquitted? After nine years they found out that everything was regular and there was no influencing of others.

"For 12 years we kept ourselves to ourselves without spending a lira. We did not have any money – we had to sell a player before buying another like when we replaced Zinedine Zidane with Pavel Nedved."

The Calciopoli scandal rocked Italian football in 2006 and saw Juventus stripped of two Scudetti and relegated to Serie B.

Following recent developments that have cleared Moggi and Juventus for many of the offences that led to their punishment, the club is currently seeking €443 million in compensation from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). It is expected that Tuesday's verdict will strengthen their case.

"I do not know what will happen, but something will happen," Moggi added of potential further action from the Serie A champions, before telling Sky: "This case is an unfortunate thing. We joked around for nine years and the process has resulted in nothing.

"It has come at great expense and many people have been ruined. This is the point.

"In nine years they have established that the Serie A championship was regular and that the [referee] draw was regular and that communication with the referee designators was not exclusive."

Moggi did not achieve a full acquittal as the accusation of conspiracy was only written off due to the statute of limitations expiring.

"I didn't get a total acquittal? No, but I'm content with this. We had 150 witnesses, but only 24 gave evidence - the others were cancelled. I'm happy for those who were acquitted and for those who were close to me. But, all in all, I'm not happy about what has happened."

[Socrates 7962]

Juventus Mulling Over €444 Million
Calciopoli Compensation Case

Mar 26, 2015

With the final Calciopoli ruling in, Juventus are reportedly considering whether or not to start legal proceedings to request damages of €444 million, as well as the two striped Scudetti.

Juventus were relegated to Serie B and saw the 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles taken from them. Despite immediately gaining promotion back to the Italian top flight, the Bianconeri feel they have lost a significant amount of revenue through not playing in Serie A, as well as missing out on European competition.

On Monday evening, the Supreme Court in Italy dropped charges of sporting fraud against Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo after the statute of limitations expired. Though they were not acquitted.

As a result, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli is mulling over a request for damages from the FIGC due to Calciopoli, as well as the reinstatement of the two stripped Scudetti, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano.

A figure of around €444m has been suggested, made up of €130 million from a decline in stock market value; €110m for the depreciation of the Juventus brand; €80m for failure to take part in the Champions League; and €40m for a decrease in TV rights.

Should such a figure be granted the Italian Football Federation would almost certainly go bankrupt, with other clubs affected by the scandal following Juventus’ lead.

[Socrates 7962]

'Juventus could bankrupt FIGC'

Mar 31, 2015

Federation President Carlo Tavecchio discusses Juventus’ Calciopoli lawsuit - ‘the FIGC would go bankrupt’.

The final verdicts in the long running scandal were handed down by the criminal courts last week, with former Juventus directors Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo acquitted on some charges, but not others.

The club is seeking €443m in damages from the Federation in a civil trial, citing loss of income, loss of players and damage to reputation for a scandal in which they believe they were unfairly singled out.

“I’ve always had great respect and affection for Turin,” Tavecchio told Tuttosport, a newspaper based in the city.

“Turin is also where the Federation was born [in 1898]. I supported Inter… well I no longer cheer for them but you know… however, I’ve always had a soft spot for Torino, for their history and tradition.

“Also, I was one of the few Inter fans who weren’t offended when Juve won.

“The thing that troubled me, though not personally, is the civil trial by Juventus, claiming €443m. How can that not be a problem?

“How can you go to lunch with someone, meanwhile they’re claiming €443m in damages from you? I don’t know how my predecessors did it.

“Every time I’ve met with [Juventus President Andrea] Agnelli he’s shown himself to be open to things, but we never went into details.

“We waited for the judgement of all levels of the Calciopoli courts. As for the liability action, Juventus have no chance after the Supreme Court ruling.

“The matter is closed. For other things, we’ll have to see.

“Other teams phoned the referees? It’s one thing to make calls to protest, it’s another to call to make agreements. The judgements are very clear.

“You can say that these things have been refuted in criminal law, but in sports it’s another thing. I have thought of everything and more regarding calls to the referees.

“The analysis by the Supreme Court shows that there were deliberate actions by the two Juventus directors.

“We don’t know the motivations [of the court for its decisions]? Sure, but in the meantime there have been convictions… or rather the statute of limitations came into effect, but the offence took place, from what I've read…

“I repeat, two directors from Juve, not from [amateur team] Bordighera.

“I’m not trying to block anything, what interests me now is the question of instability. The FIGC would go bankrupt if we gave Juventus that €443m.

“I’d rather just shake hands with Juve and tell everyone to tone it down, but I can’t do that. The FIGC has a dignity which we must get back.

“We’re servants to everyone, but slaves to no-one.

“Even Juventus have an interest [in the FIGC], with their players being in the national team, to set one party apart from everyone is useless.

“We just have to get rid of the claim for damages, then there’s nothing stopping us evaluating the rules and arguments that Juve believe should be evaluated.

“We are the first to understand that when you win a title on the field you have a right to it. The pre-Calciopoli Juventus did not need to win in court.

“[but] I have only one goal, to find an agreement with Juventus on the matter of the appeal [for damages]. Don’t put the cart before the horse.

“The big battle is the litigation, not the Scudetti.”

[Socrates 7962]

Inter Volunteer To Return
Two Scudetto’s To Juve

Apr 1, 2015

Reports have come to light that Inter have stepped forward and volunteered to return the Scudetto which was controversially awarded to them in the 2005-06 season as well as compensate Juventus for the title stripped of them in 2004-05.

After Juventus were involved in the infamous Calciopoli scandal in 2006, the club were relegated by the FIGC on top of having their previous two league titles taken from them, one of which was handed to Inter who had only finished third place that year.

However, after years of turmoil surrounding the subject, and the Bianconeri’s recent push towards re-claiming their lost titles along with a €443 million lawsuit against the FIGC in hand, inside reports suggest that Inter president Erick Thohir has reached out to both parties in order to find a solution.

Thohir is said to have proposed a deal in which he is willing to give back the title that Inter were handed, and in addition to reimburse any losses that the Old Lady suffered from the other Serie A title.

Andrea Agnelli, president of Juventus will now reportedly take Thohir up on this offer, and is set to join the fellow businessman in Rome along side Carlo Tavecchio to further discuss the matter.

It is conceivable that the deal shall be concluded within the next few days.
 

Happy April Fools Day!

[Socrates 7962]

Juventus opponents' mouths are
'foaming with envy' - Luciano Moggi

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2849592/juventus-opponents-foaming-with-envy-says-luciano-moggi

Apr 13, 2016

Former Juventus sporting director Luciano Moggi says the whole Calciopoli scandal was invented due to the envy and hate people had for the success of his team.

Moggi was banned from all activity in football and handed a prison sentence -- which was never enforced -- for being found guilty of influencing refereeing selections of Serie A fixtures, thus gaining an advantage for the Turin-based club.

Juve themselves were relegated to Serie B and stripped of their 2004-05 Serie A title as part of the wide-ranging sanctions.

With Juve again dominating Italian football, Moggi has speculated how long it will be before another scandal is devised to derail the team again, insisting that people are still jealous about his former club's ongoing success.

"Juve are top and if you want an answer as to why they are about to win a fifth straight Scudetto, then you can work it out by seeing that they have won 22 of their last 23 games," Moggi told Libero.

"Then you realise that they also have the best defence in the league, the best goalkeeper in the world, the third best attack after Napoli and Roma.

"It gets the Juve fans licking their lips while their opponents' mouths are foaming with envy at people who are saying little, but winning a lot. Unfortunately this envy becomes hate, and this already created Calciopoli.

"That was a war which reset our football in terms of the values it had worldwide and it was fed by the media, who spread across the world a scandal which never existed, if not in the minds of people who wanted to harm one club and their management.

"Now that Juve are back dominating again, people are once again looking for something controversial. The latest came from Sweden with the accusation that Zlatan Ibrahimovic was doping when he played for Juve. That was withdrawn after a legal threat, but the accusation has nevertheless been put out there.

"Curiously enough, the referee of Bayern-Juve was Swedish, yet not much was said about that, probably because Juve were the side damaged by it. On the other hand, after the Turin derby everybody was criticising Rizzoli for what they presumed was pro-Juventus refereeing. Just imagine what we have to live with."

Juve are currently six points clear of Napoli at the top of Serie A with six games of the season remaining, and on course for a fifth straight Serie A title.