Tuesday 15 March, 2011
Blog: Juventus 0 Tuttosport 1
Serafino Ingardia writes on Juventus’ questionable decision to hit out at Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport
Yesterday’s Tuttosport front page: 'They defend Del Neri and attack us! Incredible statement by the club against Tuttosport who "permit themselves" to criticise the worst Juve ever'
While Juventus continue their infamous fall in Serie A, the club’s Board has opted to react to the crisis by shifting the fans and media attention to something else – a needless spat with national newspaper Tuttosport.
The Turin based publication has been targeted by the Bianconeri for its “irresponsible behaviour” in their treatment of the Old Lady. According to the club, Tuttosport have an agenda to criticise boss Luigi Del Neri, some players and directors. Juventus have also questioned Tuttosport’s role in being its fans’ main referent. But tilting at windmills clearly won’t do Juve any favours at this stage of the proceedings.
Indeed, it is a grotesque situation which underlines the confused and chaotic moment the Italian giants are going through. Even though Juve are facing the end of one of the club’s most disappointing seasons, it is surprisingly out of the Old Lady’s character to take such a stand against its local paper.
The under pressure directors must have really ran out of excuses in order to justify the team’s flop if they opted to hit out at a newspaper which, despite having its critics, has arguably been the only one close to Juve over these difficult years.
Tuttosport is indeed a people’s newspaper with its sometimes over the top reactions to failure and success, as well as its trademark transfer sagas. From its frustrating headlines to its in depth analysis of Juve’s crisis, TS has always tried to represent the fans’ voice. The paper has kept its focus on what is supposed to be the best for the club.
What seems clear is that it is not Tuttosport’s fault if Juve find themselves in the position they are in. The newspaper cannot even be accused of interfering with the club’s transfer campaign.
With so many players and Coaches linked to Juve it is practically impossible to understand whether there is concrete truth behind every story published. Perhaps sometimes not totally reliable, but there’s a big difference between that and accusing a newspaper of bad faith. If anything it was a nonsense statement a la Mourinho which will hurt Juve more than Tuttosport’s critical articles.
The outfit’s official stance against Tuttosport is also surprising, given that a section of the support think the outfit should have issued a formal complaint against La Gazzetta dello Sport over their handling of Calciopoli.
But in these political minefields, the club ended up doing the complete opposite at a stage in which further tension shouldn’t have been raised. TS is a newspaper which must be taken with a pinch of salt and almost every Juventus fan knows it. Perhaps in Corso Ferraris they have yet to understand it.
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