Calciopoli Watch: FIGC Ordered Refs Not To Help Juventus, Milan Spoke To Collina, Fiorentina Consider Legal Action
The latest shocking revelation in relation to the on-going Calciopoli trial in Naples has revealed that the chief of Italian football at the time, Franco Carraro, issued orders that referees must not help Juventus. And, Milan have been accused of speaking with referees, not just designators.
The latest call to be transcribed from the evidence obtained by Luciano Moggi's legal team at the trial shows how the Italian FA (FIGC) ensured Juventus were not helped during Calciopoli.
In fact, it was the then FIGC president Franco Carraro who called referee designator Paolo Bergamo telling him that Juventus were to be sent a referee who would not help them during a game in the build up to a Lega Calcio election.
It's a sensational revelation which suggests the then chief of Italian football used his power to manipulate games for his and the authorities own agenda.
And it has led to some claiming the whole Calciopoli process in 2006 should have been thrown out.
Here is a transcript from one of the calls shown live on the Diretta Stadio programme on television channel 7Gold.
The call involves Bergamo and Carrarro. The head of the FA (Carraro) asks for Rodomonti to be sent for the Juventus game, but warns Bergamo of the consequences of any mistakes that could favour the Old Lady.
Carraro: Please I recommend you ensure he [Rodomonti] doesn't help Juventus because it's a very delicate time for us at the Lega. Please, ensure it's an honest affair, but make sure there are no mistakes that could favour Juventus. Don't help Juventus.
Bergamo: Don't worry I will speak to him about it. I will call him after he finishes training tomorrow.
Carraro: Just make sure he doesn't make any mistakes because if he does and it favours Juventus then it would be a disaster.
One of the guests on the show who was sitting next to Luciano Moggi as the transcript was played believes the whole Calcipoli process at the time should have been thrown out based on that call.
"It's a scandal. We are talking about the head of Italian football here. Based on just this call, the whole Calciopoli process should have been scrapped," said the guest.
Since then, Moggi has spoken further on the subject, and he has blamed the current Juventus management for not doing enough to protect the club from the sharp edges of Calciopoli.
He says the Old Lady would never have gone down to Serie B if the Elkann ownership fought for the cause with greater effort back in 2006.
"Inter's 2006 Scudetto? They should have given it to my porter, it would have been safe there," Moggi told Mattino Cinque.
"The problem is another though. Juventus did not defend anyone. If they had defended themselves like other clubs, there would never have gone down to Serie B."
Mario Sconcerti, a columnist for the Corriere della Sera newspaper and football pundit for Sky Sport Italia has defended Juventus in light of all the latest developments that have been churned up by the trial in Naples.
"It wasn't about the decision to give a Scudetto, but to take two away from Juventus was grave and serious. You cannot take away a club's history because of the behaviour of certain directors," he told Il Sussidiario.net.
But, that's not all, Milan have now been accused of having direct communication with referees at the time.
In another call, published by L'Espresso, the then Milan consultant Leonardo Meani spoke with referee Pierluigi Collina after he took a game between Siena and Milan. Meani says Milan vice president Adriano Galliani is keen to speak with the bald-headed whistle blower.
Meani: He [Adriano Galliani] asked about you. He wanted to have a chat, but couldn't because the location was not ideal.
Meani then invites Collina to a meeting at Galliani's house, but the referee refuses, fearing he will be recognised.
Collina: Both myself and Galliani can easily be recognised, I wouldn't want someone to see us.
Collina and Galliani are then alleged to have met at Meani's own restaurant for a meeting and again on other occasions.
Some time after the original Calcipoli scandal, Collina was promoted, and is currently the Serie A and B referee designator.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina, who missed out on two Champions League seasons because of their points penalty in 2006 have hinted they could take legal action based on further developments in the Naples trial.
Viola deputy chairman Mario Cognini told La Nazione newspaper, "We had made a complaint stratight away that we were victims of a profound injustice.
"What will we do now? We will wait for the outcomes, then we can take initiative so that our rights are respected."
Source: Goal
Moggi stated again that our management and BOD not defend our club. Even Viola who is not relegated back in 2006 want to take legal action based on this result.