Italian Football Scandal

Pothas · 01-06-2006, 02:13 PM

With the build up to the World cup this story has been rather queit but ive just heard a report on radio 5 on it and it's shocking how far reaching it seems to have been.

This BBC report sums it up pretty well

The corruption scandal engulfing Italy has left the country with a real sense of shame.
Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi is alleged to have fixed matches and pretty much controlled the Italian league.
It is claimed he had control of some of the top referees and administrators as well as over 220 players through an agency run by his son Alessandro, and the son of Italian coach Marcello Lippi, Davide.
AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio are also caught up in the scandal as are the national team, who are preparing for the World Cup.

Italy, and the whole of European football, has not seen anything like this before.

I travelled there for three days last week to try and speak to the main players.

After a marathon 22-hour day, we cornered the owner of Palermo, Rino Foschi, in a restaurant at 0100 to gauge his views on what has been going on.

Foschi was having dinner with the directors of Sampdoria and Fiorentina in a restaurant in Milan and I managed to persuade him to have a brief conversation on tape with me.

The scene was like something out of a Godfather film, and I half expected Robert de Niro or Al Pacino to be sitting at the next table.

I also spoke to Giuseppe Gazzoni-Frascara, the former owner of Bologna. The club was relegated in 2005 and Gazzoni-Frascara told me it was as a result of the "Moggi system".

Moggi resigned after Juventus won the Italian championship last month

He claimed that Bologna were not prepared to sign up and ended up being relegated instead of Fiorentina.

I set out to speak to Moggi himself, which none of the Italian media has managed to do - and I got very close.

Through various intermediaries he finally agreed for me to fly and meet him in Turin but it got vetoed by his lawyer, which was very frustrating.

However, we did manage to get the country's new sports minister, Giovanna Melandri, who said Italian football fans have suffered a great wound but insisted that things could be sorted out.

And I will be discussing the issue with Fifa president Sepp Blatter, world football's most senior figure, to get his take on the scandal.

My feeling as I left Italy was that the whole of their national game is in danger of imploding. How they are going to clean up a mess which is so interwoven?
Juve's title celebrations may be shortlived

This was highlighted at a press conference where Italian League president and AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was speaking.

Some Italians believe he should have known what was going on and at the press conference a mob of about 50 fans gathered outside chanting and letting off smoke bombs. It was all pretty scary.

Juventus fans are in a particularly terrible position. They could see their club relegated to Serie B or even go out of business if the Agnelli family decides to stop funding the club.

There is real urgency here because all the national federations have to give Uefa the official lists of clubs who are competing in the Champions League and the Uefa Cup by 27 July.

Italian football will have to come up with some pretty strong answers and satisfy Uefa that they are in the process of cleaning up the game.

They have not got long to do this and there is the possibility that the biggest brands in world football like Juventus and AC Milan may not feature in Europe next season.

sledger · 01-06-2006, 02:20 PM

dodgy, very dodgy, many bans and punishments to be handed out here...

Barney Rubble · 01-06-2006, 02:44 PM

Wow. Biggest thing to hit football in years....could have massive ramifications. Clubs being relegated, players leaving, huge debts, things like that. Italian football may be irreparably damaged, which would be shame.

sledger · 01-06-2006, 02:50 PM

why? they deserve all they get im afraid.

Pothas · 01-06-2006, 02:53 PM

They are in a total mess. The whole league is effected by this and there were even reports of higlights shows being fixed so they didnt show some of the more obvious match fixing. Add this to Declining crowds, old stadiums and massive hooligan problems and Italian football is beyond crisis.

sledger · 01-06-2006, 02:56 PM

its a sorry state of affairs thats for sure, but its hardly one of the best leagues in the world, some sort of decline was probably needed in order for it to rebuild properly, i dont think anyone realised it was going to be such a severe, sudden decline.

Matteh · 01-06-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sledger

its a sorry state of affairs thats for sure, but its hardly one of the best leagues in the world

No, only a part of the "Big Three" of Europe....
(England, Spain & Italy)

sledger · 01-06-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

No, only a part of the "Big Three" of Europe....
(England, Spain & Italy)

that says it all im afraid.

Barney Rubble · 01-06-2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sledger

why? they deserve all they get im afraid.

Oh, of course they deserve it - it's just a shame to see a footballing superpower brought to its knees, whatever the circumstances.

marc71178 · 01-06-2006, 03:42 PM

And of course we can never be sure that it's confined to one league...

sledger · 01-06-2006, 04:01 PM

funny if its traced back to blatter and hes behind it all....well, would be for a few mins, then id realise how awful it all was.

Pothas · 01-06-2006, 04:17 PM

some people are blaming old Bellesconi. It is corruption so it must have something to do with him

sledger · 01-06-2006, 04:21 PM

writing on the wall for lots of these sorts of officials, looks like its time for their just deserts, and about time to.

roseboy64 · 01-06-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matteh

No, only a part of the "Big Three" of Europe....
(England, Spain & Italy)

Well certainly might not be again. Holland? Germany? Not enough quality so it's probablt the "Big Two" now.

sledger · 01-06-2006, 05:17 PM

the premiership is vastly overated im afraid to say, but i shant waste my breath on that again, i remember the results of the last episode.

01-06-2006, 02:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pothas Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Surbiton, UK Posts: 8,473	Italian Football Scandal With the build up to the World cup this story has been rather queit but ive just heard a report on radio 5 on it and it's shocking how far reaching it seems to have been. This BBC report sums it up pretty well The corruption scandal engulfing Italy has left the country with a real sense of shame. Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi is alleged to have fixed matches and pretty much controlled the Italian league. It is claimed he had control of some of the top referees and administrators as well as over 220 players through an agency run by his son Alessandro, and the son of Italian coach Marcello Lippi, Davide. AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio are also caught up in the scandal as are the national team, who are preparing for the World Cup. Italy, and the whole of European football, has not seen anything like this before. I travelled there for three days last week to try and speak to the main players. After a marathon 22-hour day, we cornered the owner of Palermo, Rino Foschi, in a restaurant at 0100 to gauge his views on what has been going on. Foschi was having dinner with the directors of Sampdoria and Fiorentina in a restaurant in Milan and I managed to persuade him to have a brief conversation on tape with me. The scene was like something out of a Godfather film, and I half expected Robert de Niro or Al Pacino to be sitting at the next table. I also spoke to Giuseppe Gazzoni-Frascara, the former owner of Bologna. The club was relegated in 2005 and Gazzoni-Frascara told me it was as a result of the "Moggi system". Moggi resigned after Juventus won the Italian championship last month He claimed that Bologna were not prepared to sign up and ended up being relegated instead of Fiorentina. I set out to speak to Moggi himself, which none of the Italian media has managed to do - and I got very close. Through various intermediaries he finally agreed for me to fly and meet him in Turin but it got vetoed by his lawyer, which was very frustrating. However, we did manage to get the country's new sports minister, Giovanna Melandri, who said Italian football fans have suffered a great wound but insisted that things could be sorted out. And I will be discussing the issue with Fifa president Sepp Blatter, world football's most senior figure, to get his take on the scandal. My feeling as I left Italy was that the whole of their national game is in danger of imploding. How they are going to clean up a mess which is so interwoven? Juve's title celebrations may be shortlived This was highlighted at a press conference where Italian League president and AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was speaking. Some Italians believe he should have known what was going on and at the press conference a mob of about 50 fans gathered outside chanting and letting off smoke bombs. It was all pretty scary. Juventus fans are in a particularly terrible position. They could see their club relegated to Serie B or even go out of business if the Agnelli family decides to stop funding the club. There is real urgency here because all the national federations have to give Uefa the official lists of clubs who are competing in the Champions League and the Uefa Cup by 27 July. Italian football will have to come up with some pretty strong answers and satisfy Uefa that they are in the process of cleaning up the game. They have not got long to do this and there is the possibility that the biggest brands in world football like Juventus and AC Milan may not feature in Europe next season.

01-06-2006, 03:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
marc71178 Eyes not spreadsheets Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: England Posts: 56,346	And of course we can never be sure that it's confined to one league... __________________ marc71178 - President and founding member of AAAS - we don't only appreciate when he does well, but also when he's not quite so good! Anyone want to join the Society? Beware the evils of Kit-Kats - they're immoral apparently.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Paolo Di Canio & Fascism in football	BoyBrumby	General Sports Forum	59	02-04-2013 01:42 PM
The McNamara Exclusive: Offbreaks and Scandal!	Mr Mxyzptlk	Cricket Chat	11	09-03-2006 05:22 AM
Alternate Football discussion	Pratters	General Sports Forum	38	23-02-2005 05:12 PM
How much football do you watch?	Pratters	General Sports Forum	58	30-08-2004 05:31 PM

01-06-2006, 02:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,135	dodgy, very dodgy, many bans and punishments to be handed out here...

01-06-2006, 02:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Barney Rubble International Coach Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: All over the shop Posts: 10,191	Wow. Biggest thing to hit football in years....could have massive ramifications. Clubs being relegated, players leaving, huge debts, things like that. Italian football may be irreparably damaged, which would be shame.

01-06-2006, 02:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,135	why? they deserve all they get im afraid.

01-06-2006, 02:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pothas Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Surbiton, UK Posts: 8,473	They are in a total mess. The whole league is effected by this and there were even reports of higlights shows being fixed so they didnt show some of the more obvious match fixing. Add this to Declining crowds, old stadiums and massive hooligan problems and Italian football is beyond crisis.

01-06-2006, 02:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,135	its a sorry state of affairs thats for sure, but its hardly one of the best leagues in the world, some sort of decline was probably needed in order for it to rebuild properly, i dont think anyone realised it was going to be such a severe, sudden decline.

01-06-2006, 04:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,135	funny if its traced back to blatter and hes behind it all....well, would be for a few mins, then id realise how awful it all was.

01-06-2006, 04:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
Pothas Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Surbiton, UK Posts: 8,473	some people are blaming old Bellesconi. It is corruption so it must have something to do with him

01-06-2006, 04:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,135	writing on the wall for lots of these sorts of officials, looks like its time for their just deserts, and about time to.

01-06-2006, 05:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,135	the premiership is vastly overated im afraid to say, but i shant waste my breath on that again, i remember the results of the last episode.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)