Calciopoli Watch: Totti Escaped Juventus Ban, Zamparini Blames Moggi, Blanc Wants Justice, De Laurentiis In Quit Threat
Goal.com rounds up the biggest Calciopoli stories of the day...
By Salvatore Landolina Apr 16, 2010 5:00:00 PM
As the evidence being wheeled into the Calciopoli trial at the Tribunal of Naples mounts, new questions have been raised as to why Roma captain Francesco Totti escaped a ban for insulting a referee a week before the Lupi took on Juventus during the 2004/05 season.
According to Il Corriere della Sera, one of the 75 calls sees designators Pierluigi Pairetto and Paolo Bergamo avoiding taking action against Totti after he swore at the referee during Roma's 1-1 draw with Palermo on October 24 2004. Both Pairetto and Bergamo are alleged to have "had words" with the match official who had received abuse from Totti. It is alleged the referee was told not to mention the abuse in his match report, meaning Totti escaped a ban, and played against Juventus a week later, a game the Bianconeri won 2-0.
Moggi has accused the Juventus leadership of not doing enough to defend themselves during the original 2006 trial, claiming a stronger defence would have avoided relegation to Serie B.
Current president Jean-Claude Blanc has since responded, and he is taking a step back from all of the court room corridor swipes.
"Juventus are watching the situation and we need to give those responsible time to ensure a fair and equal justice for all, we have already been clear about this last week when we released the statement." he told the press on Friday.
Blanc was referring to a statement the club had released in relation to the on-going trial in Naples.
Meanwhile, one of Moggi's lawyers, Paolo Rodella, has said their interest is to defend the former director, not the club.
"We have asked the courts for the aquisition of these new wiretaps and we will get a response once the trial resumes on Tuesday," he told Tuttomercatoweb.com.
"Myself and two colleagues are only interested in our client Luciano Moggi's position. We are not interested in Juve's situation. We only want the best solution for our client."
Palermo have also been accused of calling referees, but president Maurizio Zamparini has blamed the whole Calciopoli affair on Moggi and Juventus. 'Zampa' has renewed his attack on the former Juve chief, despite the evidence against his own Rosanero.
"I have always been an opponent of Moggi's in the Lega, both Moggi and [Antonio] Giraudo," Zamparini told La Repubblica.
"I had warned the Agnellis back when they employed the duo. Moggi understands football, but he is not the example of sporting fairness. If he dragged Calcio into the mud then Juventus are also to blame."
Zamparini then defended his club in light of the new calls that have dragged them into the case.
"I had told [Rino] Foschi (former Palermo director) to make those calls. We wanted to protect ourselves," he concluded.
As the Lega Calcio meeting between club presidents and directors concluded Friday's Calciopoli pingball match, Milan, Parma, Napoli and Lazio all added their voices to the latest developments. It's important to note that both Parma and Napoli are not involved in the trial.
Leandro Cantamessa, Milan lawyer and advisor, insists the 2006 punishments would have been different had all the new calls been available at the time.
"A different scenario would have emerged with different consequences, but it's not for me to say this," said Cantamessa.
"In these instances it's best to remain quiet," said Lazio president Claudio Lotito.
"All these new things should be discussed in the appropriate place [court] and they will decide if these things are relevant to what has been happening," he concluded.
Parma president Tommaso Ghirardi has called for Italy's political leaders to get involved and put an end to the Calciopoli debate for good.
"I think the political world needs to examine all this and resolve it as soon as possible," said Ghirardi.
Aurelio De Laurentiis has gone a step further. He doesn't need political duck hunting to help him turn his back on a footballing country torn apart by the effects of Calciopoli.
"I am not in nor out as I am the least able to speak about Calciopoli. But, I do ask myself whether it is worth staying in this football environment," De Laurentiis concluded.
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Theres stacks of evidence against Moggi. 
