Ref: Moggi never locked me in
Friday 30 January, 2009
Referee Gianluca Paparesta insists one of the big Calciopoli scandals was untrue. “Luciano Moggi never locked me in the dressing room.”
When the trial prompted Juventus’ demotion in 2006, one of the stories most widely circulated was that Paparesta was locked in the dressing room under the Stadio Granillo after Moggi became infuriated at the 2-1 defeat to Reggina.
“I can finally tell the only absolute truth about that day, November 6 2004. Moggi never locked me in the dressing room,” Paparesta told La7 television.
“Moggi and [director Antonio] Giraudo were both agitated and complained about my performance, but nobody locked me in.
“They merely complained in an angry way because I had not given their side a penalty and disallowed an equaliser just before the final whistle – something that proved I certainly wasn’t trying to favour Juve.
“Then they left and my only mistake was not putting that incident in my report.”
Moggi bragged in some wiretapped phone conversations that he had locked Paparesta in and the failure to report that is what prompted the referee to be suspended.
“This is not just my version, it is the truth,” assured the official who is appealing against his ban. “I was not on my own, as the assistants, fourth official and an observer were present. If something had happened, they would’ve reported it.”
Paparesta did call Moggi after the incident, but assured it had nothing to do with their argument in Calabria.
“That was a mistake. I called him because there was an incredible trial by media against me after the game and Moggi was bragging about it.
“If he really thought I was incapable of continuing my job, then he should have made a formal request to the authorities.”
another Calciopoli argument down.