Updated news about the Scandal [DO NOT POST COMMENTS] (6 Viewers)

[Boudz]

Lippi to assist in probe
Thursday 18 May, 2006

Italy boss Marcello Lippi will be spoken to by magistrates on Friday as the various probes into the game threaten to disrupt the Azzurri’s World Cup preparations.

Lippi will be interviewed as part of the Rome-based enquiry into the workings of the GEA World football agency.

The tactician, whose agent son is also connected to GEA, will only be asked for his informed opinions and is not under investigation himself.

Lippi has been brought into the chaos after a number of telephone calls between himself and former Juventus director general Luciano Moggi were intercepted.

Some of the conversations published have suggested that Moggi allegedly tried to influence the tactician in which players to pick, a claim clearly rejected by the former Juve Coach.

"After eight years working together, could you imagine that after I left Juventus he wouldn't call me?" said Lippi.

"If they had intercepted all the calls I got you would see that it was not only Juventus directors who call me. I get calls from all the clubs, from their directors and Coaches.

"But I have never had any kind of pressure," added Lippi.

Nevertheless, the Italian media are speculating that the Coach could be sensationally replaced on the bench before the World Cup Finals if his situation becomes more complicated.

Under-21 boss Claudio Gentile, Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti and even ex-Azzurri tactician Giovanni Trapattoni are being suggested as possible replacements for Germany 2006.

However, there is nothing to suggest at this moment in time that Lippi will not be leading the nation’s World Cup bid.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may18f.html

 

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[Dominic]

http://sports.virgilio.it/it/cmc/calcio/200620/cmc_96121.html

That might explain some more though.

 

[ReBeL]

Italian premier says 'ethical earthquake' required to clean up soccer



ROME — Italy's new premier said Thursday it will take an "ethical earthquake" to clean up Italian soccer amid allegations of fraud, match-fixing and illegal betting.

Romano Prodi spoke hours after Italy's financial police searched the headquarters of Juventus, the storied club at the center of the investigation.

The soccer scandal "demonstrates that the line has been abundantly crossed," Prodi told the Senate in his first parliamentary address as premier. "An ethical earthquake is needed."

Police on Thursday morning searched the offices of Juventus, the club said. The homes of former general manager Luciano Moggi and players Fabio Cannavaro and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were also searched, the ANSA news agency reported.

Prosecutors said the players weren't under investigation, according to ANSA.

An apartment in Naples owned by Moggi's son, Alessandro Moggi, was also searched, ANSA reported. Alessandro Moggi runs GEA World, a player agency that is also being probed.

The searches came two days after former Italian senator Guido Rossi was appointed as extraordinary commissioner of the Italian soccer federation (FIGC).

Prosecutors said last week four clubs — Juventus, Lazio, AC Milan and Fiorentina — are involved in the game-fixing investigation. The illegal betting probe involves Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Luciano Moggi resigned Sunday over allegations that he influenced the appointment of match officials for Juventus games.

The Italian referees association Thursday temporarily suspended nine referees, the two officials who assigned referees last season — Paolo Bergamo and Pierluigi Pairetto — and several linesmen, all of whom are under investigation for match-fixing, the ANSA and Apcom news agencies reported.

ANSA reported Thursday that Luciano Moggi and ex-chief executive Antonio Giraudo were also being investigated for fraud and false bookkeeping.

Naples prosecutors ordered more than 40 people to appear for questioning on suspicion of criminal association.

Juventus won its second straight Serie A title Sunday, but the club might be stripped of the title — as well as last year's championship — if found guilty of fraud. The other clubs could have their trophies taken away and relegated to lower divisions.

Associated Press
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/europe/2006-05-18-italian-scandal_x.htm?csp=34

 

[ReBeL]

All bets are off on Italy



Italy's chances of staging football's 2012 European Championship has taken a massive knock following the match-fixing scandal involving the country's champions, Juventus.

The scandal forced the resignation of Italian Federation president Franco Carraro, who is also an executive member of Uefa, Europe's governing body, and a leading member of the International Olympic Committee.

Carraro was the major figure behind the push to get Italy their first major football tournament since they staged the 1990 World Cup. Last year, when the Uefa executive decided on a shortlist of three, Italy sailed through, getting 11 votes, well ahead of two rival bidders. The joint Croatia-Hungary bid received nine and the Ukraine-Poland bid managed seven.

The general feeling was that, while the other two bids were nominally in the race when Uefa came to decide, Italy would walk it. That is no longer the case.

Carraro, I am told, has no plans to resign from the Uefa executive or from the IOC. He was not present last week when the Uefa executive gathered in Eindhoven for the Uefa Cup final between Seville and Middlesbrough, but he is expected at the Uefa executive meeting in Glasgow in November. That will be interesting as the major talking point is likely to be the independent review of European football prepared by Jose Luis Arnaut and much lauded by Richard Caborn, the British sports minister, who is worried about money-laundering, the rise of agents and other unsavoury practices.

Caborn will present the report to Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday and Carraro's views on good governance in European football in light of the Italian match-fixing scandal should be riveting.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/05/18/sfnbos218.xml

 

[ReBeL]

The houses of Moggi and former Juve director Antonio Giraudo and those of current players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Cannavaro were also searched.

Luigi Chiappero, a lawyer for Juventus, said: "We are not worried. These are documents that we have always made available to judicial authorities."

Meanwhile, the ANSA news agency quoted Cannavaro as saying: "I've never had an illegal contract."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4993482.stm

 

[ReBeL]

Italian football's tangled web



The match-fixing scandal which has engulfed Italian football has stunned fans across Europe.

It is an extraordinary tale involving wiretaps, illicit meetings and even allegations of locking referees in dressing rooms.

BBC Sport spoke to Italian sport journalist Giancarlo Galavotti to unravel the tangled web which has shaken Italian football.


WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

Some of the biggest clubs and individuals in Italian football have found themselves at the centre of match-fixing allegations.

The scandal revolves around transcripts of phone taps which appear to show key figures in Italian football putting pressure on referees to favour certain clubs.

The allegations were uncovered as prosecutors investigated doping allegations at Juventus, Italy's most popular and successful club.

That probe, which resulted in club doctor Riccardo Agricola being found guilty of administering drugs to players in the mid-90s, resulted in phone taps being ordered by Turin prosecutors.

As a result, Juventus - winners of their 29th Serie A title on 14 May - have been implicated alongside AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio.

Juventus' general manager Luciano Moggi, who resigned after Juve secured the title, is at the centre of the scandal although he has protested his innocence.

Italian football federation (FIGC) president Franco Carraro and vice-president Innocenzo Mazzini have also resigned and the pair, along with Juventus chairman Antonio Giraudo, are among those under formal investigation.

Galavotti, who writes for Italian daily sport newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, told BBC Sport: "Our sales have rocketed by about 50,000 copies a day since this happened.

"Even old women going to the market in the morning want to read about this. It is astonishing."


WHO IS LUCIANO MOGGI?


Moggi has been with Juventus for 12 years and is one of Italian football's most powerful men.

Galavotti said Moggi had a formidable reputation.

"He has been considered as a sort of godfather of Italian football. When he joined Juventus 12 years ago, he was very sought after," he told BBC Sport.

"Until very recently Inter Milan were hoping to secure his services.

"The power of Moggi was already legendary 12 years ago, although not because of an ability to manipulate referees - that would have been too much.

"But he was considered to be ruler of the transfer market. It was commonly felt there wouldn't be a transfer in Italy without Moggi's consent."


HOW SERIOUS IS THIS?


These events could prove even more serious than the events of 1980 when AC Milan and Lazio were demoted to Serie B following an investigation into match-fixing.

Galavotti said: "If it is proven that a club executive was successful in procuring illicit advantages in a match, that would be very serious.

"It might not just be demotion to Serie B - it could be a matter of how many divisions. They could go even below Serie B."

Juventus, who are owned by the powerful Agnelli family that also control car manufacturers Fiat, have qualified for next season's Champions League and Lazio for next season's Uefa Cup but both would be kicked out should the allegations be proven.

That will have a huge financial impact - Juve's shares had fallen by 20% by the time they were suspended on Monday - and there are other implications for Serie A after former senator Guido Rossi was named as "extraordinary commissioner" of the FIGC with emergency powers to reform the game.

Galavotti said: "His powers will be almost absolute. He could decide that next season's Serie A could be 16 teams instead of 20.

"Also, people say the state of Italian football is such that it is virtually impossible for the next season to start in August. Some say it will start as late as October."


HOW HAVE PEOPLE REACTED?


Needless to say, fans, media and even those who do not normally follow football have been stunned.

Galavotti said: "I would compare it to the fall of the fascist regime in Italy. When it fell, everybody was more or less compromised, because it could not have stood in power for 20 years by itself.

"People would not admit to being fascist, but they were concealing or pretending that they never were, switching sides with alarming ease.

"There are plenty who are saying that nothing has been proven and nobody has been indicted of anything yet.

"Moggi and Giraudo say they are victims and that things will be clarified to show just how innocent they are.

"But the gut feeling among the vast majority of Italians is that this is scandal the likes of which there hasn't been before, at least in European football."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4989484.stm

 

[ReBeL]

Buffon scandal: Malta company says it is clean


Betclass Ltd, the Maltese company involved in the Italian football betting scandal in which Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is implicated, declared that there is nothing irregular in its football betting activities.

On Monday, maltastar.com reported that Italian authorities would be looking into Buffon’s betting with a Malta company. Italian law prohibits professional footballers from gambling. When this e-newspaper contacted the company, Betclass Ltd, a spokesperson said that in reply to our questions, a press release would be issued on the company’s own site. Three days later, the statement was issued on the Italian version of Betclass’s website.

Betclass defends itself

In the statement, accompanied by a photo of Gianluigi Buffon sitting by his goalpost, Betclass washed its hands clean of the case.

Mr Marco Ripamonti, the company’s lawyer, wrote: “Betclass Ltd will not give out the list of the professional footballers amongst its users and after analysing the betting records, it has resulted that there is nothing that can be regarded as abnormal or suspicious.”

Sources close to the company told this newspaper that the Parma prosecution authorities have not yet contacted Betclass Ltd. Italian newspapers had reported that the investigators looking into the sports betting by four football players are preparing to request permission to view the accounts of the companies involved, including the Maltese-registered, but foreign-owned, Betclass Ltd. This company holds offices in Malta.

No contact yet

Other sources also told maltastar.com that when such a cross border investigation is required, the Italian investigators will have to seek the Maltese government’s permission before looking into the Maltese company’s books. “But Maltese authorities have not yet been contacted”.

The scandal that rocked Italian football a few weeks before the World Cup finals was extensively reported on Italian media. Reports accounted how Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s number one goalie, placed his bets through an agent in Parma, Roberto Barbieri. When interviewed, Barbieri said that he received the footballer’s requests via sms. “I sent [Buffon’s] money to a Maltese company, Betclass”.

Editorial Note

Following maltastar.com’s report on this scandal on Monday, lots of Maltese football fans sent us e-mails expressing concern about the fate of their beloved team Juventus.

Yet, Italian football fans can put their minds at ease. Gianluigi Buffon has been included in the Italian mister’s squad that will travel to Germany for the World Cup finals. A very similar scandal hit the Italy World Cup squad years back. In 1982, to be exact. To all Italian football fans out there – get wise, and check out who took the World Cup home that year!

http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=2993

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So nice news

 

[ReBeL]

Tangentopoli revisited



The scandal hitting Italian football is nothing new. A similar episode, though on an apparently smaller scale, led to none other than AC Milan being demoted way back in 1980.

The end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s saw the exposure of the corruption in the Italian political system. Then it emerged that politicians of all political persuasions had been receiving kickbacks from people they awarded contracts to.

The late Socialist prime minister, Bettino Craxi, admitted that he had done this because that is what everybody did. Ironically, he was the only one to be prosecuted and had to flee to Tunisia to escape prison. Ironically, one of the beneficiaries of this system was now deposed prime minister, Silivio Berlusconi, a friend of Craxi who deserted him in his hour of need, so much so that the family insisted that he should not attend the funeral in Hammamet.

The clean hands, manipulite, clean hands, investigations led by magistrate Antonio di Pietro, who now forms part of the new centre left governing coalition changed all this. One would have thought that Italy had cleaned up its act.

Alas it was not to be. The rotten apples in the state of Italy hit one of its quasi –official institutions – football. It now emerges that practically everything was fixed and cooked up to favour a select couple of teams. It appears that the main culprits are Juventus. However, the ominous of their beleaguered ex-general manager, Luciano Moggi, that he will not go down alone speaks volumes. It is indicative that many more clubs are involved. It’s as if all this was a way of life which everyone knew about but about which nobody spoke in the famed Italian tradition of omerta` - silence.

It all sounds very familiar and reminiscent of the late 80s and early 90s. It all exudes a feeling of deja vue.

That’s why is feels like tangentopoli revisited.

http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=2998

 

[ReBeL]

Italy coach Lippi questioned as Juventus shares tumble



MILAN, May 19 (Reuters) - Magistrates questioned Italy coach Marcello Lippi on Friday in a soccer scandal swirling around champions Juventus which Prime Minister Romano Prodi called a symbol of a "crisis of ethics" in the country.

Juventus shares tumbled 11 percent to a record low in the wake of investigations into transfer deals and allegations of match-fixing at the club, only three weeks before the national team take to the field at the World Cup in Germany.

"I've been questioned as a witness ... From now on I'll think only about leading the national team," Lippi said in a statement from Italy's Football Federation.

Lippi denied this week he had ever come under pressure from former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi to select certain players for the national side.

Moggi resigned last week. The publication of taped telephone calls between Moggi and various soccer officials, including the man responsible for referees' appointments, triggered the unfolding scandal.

Lippi met magistrates as part of a probe into GEA World, a sports management agency which has nearly 200 Italian players and coaches on its books and is run by Moggi's son Alessandro.

Father and son, along with two other GEA staffers, are under investigation in Rome for suspected use of violence and threats to warp competition.

ETHICS CRISIS

Prodi, who won elections in April and took office formally this week, said on Friday the scandal "has symbolised to people the depth of the crisis of ethics and how it has entered every sector of public life".

Magistrates in four Italian cities are now investigating an ever widening range of possible soccer crimes.

Two investigations in Rome and Parma are looking into dealings by GEA World and into illegal gambling.

In Turin, magistrates have placed Moggi and Juve's chief executive Antonio Giraudo under investigation on suspicion of false accounting relating to the club's transfer dealings.

Moggi, who has denied any wrongdoing, is already involved in a separate Naples probe into allegations of match-fixing.

Juventus' share price has halved over the past 10 days and the latest transfer deal probe dealt the stock another heavy blow.

The club, which won its second successive league title last weekend, is now worth about 145 million euros ($185 million) at 1.19 euros per share.

SERIE B THREAT

On Thursday tax police searched the Turin homes of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, two of Juventus's top players.

The search warrant cited a possible irregular payment to Ajax Amsterdam, which signed a 16 million euro deal with Juventus in 2004 for Ibrahimovic. Ajax financial director Jeroen Slop denied any irregularities.

"It's ridiculous nonsense," Slop told Reuters on Friday. "I was involved in the transfer of Ibrahimovic so if anybody knows about it, it's me, and I'm saying again it's ridiculous nonsense."

Juventus faces possible relegation to Serie B if its officials are found guilty of attempting to influence the outcome of matches. The club has said it is cooperating with investigators.

It appointed Carlo Sant'Albano as its new chief executive on Friday, replacing Giraudo. Coach Fabio Capello will keep his post.

Sant'Albano is chief executive of the Agnelli family's holding company, Ifil , which controls the club.

Ifil shares have also suffered during the unfolding scandal and on Friday afternoon were down 1.7 percent at 4.3 euros.

Sources close to the situation said Ifil, despite being the major shareholder in Juve, had not been very involved in the club but had been forced to take a more hands-on approach in the last 10 days and that intervention was likely to continue.

Reuters

 

[ReBeL]

Juventus appoints Ifil head Sant'Albano as CEO



MILAN, May 19 (Reuters) - Italian premier league soccer club Juventus appointed Carlo Sant'Albano as its new chief executive on Friday, just over a week after its entire board resigned amid a probe into match-fixing allegations.

Sant'Albano is also CEO of Ifil, the holding company of the Agnelli family, which controls Juventus.

Sant'Albano will stay at the helm of Juventus until June 29, when a shareholders' meeting will choose a new board.

Sant'Albano said in a statement issued by Juventus his tasks would include reviewing existing contracts, selecting new management and maintaining a close relationship with sponsors.

Reuters

 

[ReBeL]

Sport not always as it seems to be



THE fact that 37 matches played in Italy's Serie A last season, are under investigation, is disquieting - yet somehow unsurprising.

Italy, with its history of Mafia and corruption, has long been viewed with suspicious eyes, yet we should not be deluded that it is a country of sharp practice in isolation.

In the past few months, referees in Germany, Belgium and Brazil have been jailed for their parts in match-fixing and it's fair to say that officials in Turkey, Greece, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have also come under scrutiny.

Those of us with puritanical minds who pooh-pooh the very idea that sporting events could be rigged are being naive in the extreme.

There was a spate of match-fixing in England in the 1960s when a number of players were sent down, and then for the next 40-odd years the game seemed to clean up it's act, apart from scandals overseas involving Olympique Marseille and Fiorentina.

Now Juventus are implicated along with Lazio and Fiorentina again, and it will shake Italian soccer to the core if the Turin club is relegated as a consequence, if, of course, found guilty.

Their general manager Luciano Moggi has already resigned after admitting to demanding "friendly" referees.

I can't believe match-fixing has ever been rife in England, but over the years I've spoken to a couple of players who admitted they'd been approached to rig results - and rejected the offers I hasten to add.

Obviously wrestling, horse racing, greyhounds and snooker are sports said to have been infiltrated by mischief-makers in cohorts with bookmakers, and I confess to having been stunned by an English ice-dance pair who told me that they were destined to finish sixth at the World Championships - two days before anyone skated!

Not only were they spot on, they also gave me the five who would finish ahead of them in correct order!

Much as we'd like to think otherwise, sport ain't always what it seems to be!

http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co....t-not-always-as-it-seems-to-be-name_page.html

 

[Jem83]

Well I guess it was inevitable, he had to open his mouth sooner or later...

Zeman welcomes Juve inquest

Friday 19 May, 2006
Zdenek Zeman has given his opinion on the scandal turning Italian football upside down and considers it a blessing in disguise.

“Unfortunately for football, this was the system in place. I hope it can change and that from now on everything will be dealt with differently,” said the Brescia boss.

The former Lazio and Roma Coach sparked the first major investigation into Juventus’ practices when he suggested allegations of doping at the club.

A seven-year trial failed to find any serious wrong-doing and the Bianconeri were effectively cleared of responsibility.

Following the interception of telephone calls from former Juve director general Luciano Moggi, the side is back under the spotlight with one of the biggest scandals Italian football has ever seen.

“This is an opportunity for change and I hope that everyone will take this chance to take a new direction. It has to be done, because this is not football,” added the Czech Coach.

Zeman was interrogated by public prosecutors in Rome this afternoon and spoke to reporters as he left the building.

“We talked about the current football landscape. I didn’t have to tell them too much, as from the transcripts of the telephone calls you can tell what’s going on. They will make their own conclusions from that evidence.”

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may19l.html

 

[olkiller]

John Elkann interviewed by La Stampa (looks like we're really going to serie B)

Ingegner Elkann, vi mandano in serie B?
«Oggi siamo in A e speriamo di rimanerci».
Impresa titanica. Le intercettazioni su Moggi e Giraudo sono pesanti.
«Abbiamo preso subito atto della realtà che si andava configurando e ci siamo comportati di conseguenza. Il consiglio della Juventus era già in calendario. Dopo un’approfondita analisi della situazione l’intero Consiglio ha rassegnato le dimissioni. Domenica sera, conclusa la partita scudetto, Luciano Moggi ha presentato le sue dimissioni da Direttore Generale. Ieri le deleghe manageriali sono state assegnate ad interim a Carlo Sant’Albano, a fine giugno l’Assemblea eleggerà il nuovo Consiglio».

Composto da chi?
«Da professionisti e grandi sportivi».

Richiamerete Platini?
«Michel è un amico, lo stimo molto; spesso ci sentiamo per dei consigli, ma ha altri obiettivi, che peraltro condivido».

Ci saranno membri della sua famiglia?
«No. In questo momento è importante rafforzare il Consiglio inserendo esperti di sport e professionisti con competenze specifiche. Ma la Famiglia sarà sempre vicina alla squadra».

Molti si aspettano che vi consegnate petto in fuori: abbiamo sbagliato, sparate pure. Sarebbe un bel gesto, no?
«Quello che è importante è affrontare la situazione con serietà».

Beh, Moggi era il vostro direttore generale.
«E’ vero. I comportamenti individuali sono in via di accertamento. Ci siamo assunti pienamente le nostre responsabilità, ma non staremo a subire passivamente il polverone. La squadra in campo ha fatto vedere la sua forza e i risultati ottenuti in Europa dimostrano le sue qualità».

Perché non vi siete accorti di nulla?
«Era impossibile per i non addetti ai lavori. Il grado di conoscenza degli azionisti è basato sui documenti societari, che sono ufficiali e certificati».
Giovedì la Guardia di Finanza è entrata nella sede della Juve. Sgradevole.
«Era un atto dovuto. Le carte sono a disposizione di tutti».

Cederete una parte della società?
«Non sarebbe una soluzione».

Che cosa farete?
«Cercheremo di assicurare una partecipazione di livello della squadra al campionato di competenza. Faremo il possibile per equilibrare le entrate e le uscite. Non abbiamo paura di affrontare le avversità».

Mezza Italia vi insulta.
«Risponderemo facendo da subito ciò che c’è da fare: soprattutto lavoreremo per riportare lo sport al centro di tutto: questa è la cosa più importante. Certo, questo non riguarda solo la Juventus...»

Se il campionato di competenza fosse la B?
«Ci attrezzeremmo per ritornare in A».

Con chi?
«Abbiamo chiesto a Capello di rimanere insieme a noi e lui ha accettato: si è messo subito al lavoro per la preparazione della prossima stagione. Di più non possiamo chiedere. Valuteremo insieme l’evoluzione della situazione».

Come ricostruirete la squadra?
«Oggi la squadra c’è. E comunque sappiamo di poter contare su molti giovani in giro per l’Italia».

Questa storia vi ha causato un danno economico enorme.
«In verità al momento non è quantificabile».

Gli sponsor sono pronti a lasciarvi.
«Al contrario: dai primi contatti risulta invece che gli sponsor sono pronti a darci una grossa mano».

Ci crede davvero?
«Sì ci credo perché hanno fiducia nella Juventus. La stessa fiducia che hanno oltre dieci milioni di tifosi sparsi nel Paese e molti altri nel mondo».

Non avete tremato neppure per le flessioni della Borsa?
«La società è quotata e proprio per questo tutto è stato fatto con la massima trasparenza da parte di chi è azionista e da parte di chi è consigliere.
Abbiamo agito nel rispetto delle regole».

Ma il mercato vuole sapere se va avanti il progetto dello stadio.
«Al momento tutti i progetti di sviluppo sono sospesi: saranno sottoposti all’esame del nuovo Consiglio di Amministrazione non appena sarà nominato».

Cosa avete detto ai giocatori prima della partita che vi ha assegnato questo scudetto?
«Che eravamo al fianco della squadra e di Capello e che avremmo atteso che le responsabilità personali fossero accertate. Abbiamo garantito tranquillità alla squadra, che ha saputo reagire vincendo lo scudetto».

Vincendo?
«In questa Juventus ci sono 14 giocatori che parteciperanno ai mondiali di Germania, 9 stranieri e 5 italiani, questo dato ha un significato».

Sono stati i soldi a rovinare il calcio?
«No. Denaro e comportamenti etici possono e anzi devono convivere. Proprio per questo tra le priorità del nuovo management della Juventus c’è la definizione di un Codice Etico».

I ministri dello Sport dei più importanti Paesi europei sostengono che il calcio abbia una sua natura speciale e che dunque non possa essere trattato come semplice business.
«Condivido. Riportiamo lo sport al centro, valorizziamo i vivai, introduciamo il salary cap, puntiamo anche sull’importanza del valore educativo delle attività sportive».

La convince la delega al ministro Melandri?
«E' un segnale importante e aspettiamo fiduciosi il suo programma».

Adesso si deve fare pulizia.
«Bisogna voltare pagina. Lo sport, i tifosi, i valori che sono stati così bene espressi durante le Olimpiadi di Torino e che mi auguro di vedere ai Mondiali, devono essere e saranno il cuore della nostra azione futura».

 

[ReBeL]

FIFA president appalled by Italian match-fixing scandal



ROME (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter has expressed his dismay about the state of Italian football as the Serie A match-fixing scandal rumbles on.

"It's terrible what's happening, especially for the game's image," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I could understand it if it had happened in Africa, but not in Italy."

Blatter applauded Italy's footbal federation (FIGC) for pulling Italian referee Massimo De Santis, who is under investigation for sporting fraud, out of the World Cup.

"It was the right decision," he said. "Now we await the outcome of the investigation."

Four Serie A clubs - Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio - are suspected of match-fixing in the 2004-05 season.

Also under investigation are FIGC officials, Serie A directors and referees.

AFP

 

[ReBeL]

John Elkann interviewed by La Stampa (looks like we're really going to serie B)

Ingegner Elkann, vi mandano in serie B?
«Oggi siamo in A e speriamo di rimanerci».
Impresa titanica. Le intercettazioni su Moggi e Giraudo sono pesanti.
«Abbiamo preso subito atto della realtà che si andava configurando e ci siamo comportati di conseguenza. Il consiglio della Juventus era già in calendario. Dopo un’approfondita analisi della situazione l’intero Consiglio ha rassegnato le dimissioni. Domenica sera, conclusa la partita scudetto, Luciano Moggi ha presentato le sue dimissioni da Direttore Generale. Ieri le deleghe manageriali sono state assegnate ad interim a Carlo Sant’Albano, a fine giugno l’Assemblea eleggerà il nuovo Consiglio».

Composto da chi?
«Da professionisti e grandi sportivi».

Richiamerete Platini?
«Michel è un amico, lo stimo molto; spesso ci sentiamo per dei consigli, ma ha altri obiettivi, che peraltro condivido».

Ci saranno membri della sua famiglia?
«No. In questo momento è importante rafforzare il Consiglio inserendo esperti di sport e professionisti con competenze specifiche. Ma la Famiglia sarà sempre vicina alla squadra».

Molti si aspettano che vi consegnate petto in fuori: abbiamo sbagliato, sparate pure. Sarebbe un bel gesto, no?
«Quello che è importante è affrontare la situazione con serietà».

Beh, Moggi era il vostro direttore generale.
«E’ vero. I comportamenti individuali sono in via di accertamento. Ci siamo assunti pienamente le nostre responsabilità, ma non staremo a subire passivamente il polverone. La squadra in campo ha fatto vedere la sua forza e i risultati ottenuti in Europa dimostrano le sue qualità».

Perché non vi siete accorti di nulla?
«Era impossibile per i non addetti ai lavori. Il grado di conoscenza degli azionisti è basato sui documenti societari, che sono ufficiali e certificati».
Giovedì la Guardia di Finanza è entrata nella sede della Juve. Sgradevole.
«Era un atto dovuto. Le carte sono a disposizione di tutti».

Cederete una parte della società?
«Non sarebbe una soluzione».

Che cosa farete?
«Cercheremo di assicurare una partecipazione di livello della squadra al campionato di competenza. Faremo il possibile per equilibrare le entrate e le uscite. Non abbiamo paura di affrontare le avversità».

Mezza Italia vi insulta.
«Risponderemo facendo da subito ciò che c’è da fare: soprattutto lavoreremo per riportare lo sport al centro di tutto: questa è la cosa più importante. Certo, questo non riguarda solo la Juventus...»

Se il campionato di competenza fosse la B?
«Ci attrezzeremmo per ritornare in A».

Con chi?
«Abbiamo chiesto a Capello di rimanere insieme a noi e lui ha accettato: si è messo subito al lavoro per la preparazione della prossima stagione. Di più non possiamo chiedere. Valuteremo insieme l’evoluzione della situazione».

Come ricostruirete la squadra?
«Oggi la squadra c’è. E comunque sappiamo di poter contare su molti giovani in giro per l’Italia».

Questa storia vi ha causato un danno economico enorme.
«In verità al momento non è quantificabile».

Gli sponsor sono pronti a lasciarvi.
«Al contrario: dai primi contatti risulta invece che gli sponsor sono pronti a darci una grossa mano».

Ci crede davvero?
«Sì ci credo perché hanno fiducia nella Juventus. La stessa fiducia che hanno oltre dieci milioni di tifosi sparsi nel Paese e molti altri nel mondo».

Non avete tremato neppure per le flessioni della Borsa?
«La società è quotata e proprio per questo tutto è stato fatto con la massima trasparenza da parte di chi è azionista e da parte di chi è consigliere.
Abbiamo agito nel rispetto delle regole».

Ma il mercato vuole sapere se va avanti il progetto dello stadio.
«Al momento tutti i progetti di sviluppo sono sospesi: saranno sottoposti all’esame del nuovo Consiglio di Amministrazione non appena sarà nominato».

Cosa avete detto ai giocatori prima della partita che vi ha assegnato questo scudetto?
«Che eravamo al fianco della squadra e di Capello e che avremmo atteso che le responsabilità personali fossero accertate. Abbiamo garantito tranquillità alla squadra, che ha saputo reagire vincendo lo scudetto».

Vincendo?
«In questa Juventus ci sono 14 giocatori che parteciperanno ai mondiali di Germania, 9 stranieri e 5 italiani, questo dato ha un significato».

Sono stati i soldi a rovinare il calcio?
«No. Denaro e comportamenti etici possono e anzi devono convivere. Proprio per questo tra le priorità del nuovo management della Juventus c’è la definizione di un Codice Etico».

I ministri dello Sport dei più importanti Paesi europei sostengono che il calcio abbia una sua natura speciale e che dunque non possa essere trattato come semplice business.
«Condivido. Riportiamo lo sport al centro, valorizziamo i vivai, introduciamo il salary cap, puntiamo anche sull’importanza del valore educativo delle attività sportive».

La convince la delega al ministro Melandri?
«E' un segnale importante e aspettiamo fiduciosi il suo programma».

Adesso si deve fare pulizia.
«Bisogna voltare pagina. Lo sport, i tifosi, i valori che sono stati così bene espressi durante le Olimpiadi di Torino e che mi auguro di vedere ai Mondiali, devono essere e saranno il cuore della nostra azione futura».

After translating it, the most important two points are:

1- Our sponsers WON'T leave Juve if we go down to Serie B...

2- The construction of Delle Alpi is stopped now, and its destiny will be decided by the new Board of Directors...

 

[Juve_Kosova]

STOP posting in this thread FFS!! This thread is only for news..


http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may20f.html

Inter enter UEFA referee row Saturday 20 May, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inter are also involved in the growing scandal after allegations Pierluigi Pairetto informed them in advance of Champions League referees.

One of the first issues that struck former Juventus director general Luciano Moggi in this investigation was the fact that designator Pairetto had told him the name of the referees assigned to their European games up to two weeks ahead of kick-off.


Under UEFA rules, clubs are not supposed to know who will officiate their ties until 48 hours before the match and Pairetto was reprimanded for that action.


According to new telephone interceptions quoted in today’s ‘Gazzetta dello Sport,’ Inter President Facchetti was also informed of the referees assigned to two of their Champions League group games in advance.


The phone calls, made in September 2004, see Pairetto confirming that Urs Meier has been assigned to the big game against Valencia and Kyros Vassaras for the Anderlecht encounter.


“I made them put Meier in for the second game, because that was the most important for you,” Pairetto was quoted as saying in the alleged telephone conversation. “I picked him, as he is a very reliable referee. Valencia is a tough atmosphere.”


The conversation took place on September 14, two weeks before Vassaras was officially assigned to the 3-1 win against Anderlecht and over a month before Swiss referee Meier officiated Inter’s 5-1 victory at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium.

 

[ReBeL]

Juventus to curb wages in ethics overhaul



MILAN, May 20 (Reuters) - Italian soccer champions Juventus will introduce salary caps as part of an ethical overhaul after its entire board resigned over a scandal, the vice-president of its main shareholder was quoted as saying on Saturday.

'We're bringing the sport back to the centre, valuing the academies for young players, introducing a salary cap, focusing also on the importance of the educational value of sports,' John Elkann, vice-president of holding firm Ifil and heir to Italy's mighty Agnelli clan, told newspaper La Stampa.

Juventus's share price has halved over the past ten days amid a widening probe into transfer deals and allegations of match-fixing at the club, only three weeks before the national team take to the field at the World Cup in Germany.

Elkann said introducing an ethical code at Juventus was a priority for the club's new management. Juventus appointed Carlo Sant'Albano as its new chief executive on Friday, replacing Giraudo. Coach Fabio Capello will keep his post.

Asked why Ifil had been unaware of what went on at the club, Elkann said: 'It was impossible for those who were not employed there. The shareholders' level of knowledge is based on the company's official, certified documents.'

He also said Juventus's sponsors were ready to help the club and would not abandon them. Libyan oil firm Tamoil, a top sponsor, has so far declined to comment on its plans.

Ifil owns some 60 percent of Juventus and is also a main shareholder in industrial group Fiat .

Reuters
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=368422&campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=4716

 

[ReBeL]

Lars fears Zlatan negativity



Sweden coach Lars Lagerback fears the media frenzy surrounding star Zlatan Ibrahimovic will bring "negative energy" into the national side.The flamboyant striker recently won his second successive Scudetto with Juventus but the club's image has been tarnished by controversies at the end of the Italian season.

There are concerns the 24-year-old Ibrahimovic may be unable to firmly focus this summer at the World Cup, with journalists poised to ask questions about Juventus rather than Sweden.

"I can help Ibrahimovic by deciding that he does not have to be involved in certain things (with journalists)," he told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

Lagerback says the situation reminds him of 12 years ago when the majority of the attention was reserved for Tomas Brolin and not the rest of the Sweden team at USA '94.

Brolin was a big star at Parma in Italy.

"There was a lot of focus on Brolin in 1994, but not the same as there is around Ibrahimovic right now," Lagerback said.

"He only needs to sneeze to make the headlines."

Between 120 and 130 journalists, many tracking Ibrahimovic, are expected to show up when the country's players gather on Sunday on the Swedish island Gotland to begin their World Cup preparations.

"I know that it will take time and that it will create negative energy in the group," he said.

Teamtalk
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/060520/1/jq0v.html

 

[ReBeL]

Trap stands up for Lippi



Giovanni Trapattoni has defended Italy Coach Marcello Lippi from accusations he accepted recommendations from Luciano Moggi.

The allegations surfaced this week following the publication of taped telephone calls between former Juventus director general Moggi and the Azzurri boss, although Lippi has denied taking orders from the transfer guru on which players to select for international duty.

“Lippi’s choices are there for all to see and there is nothing shadowy about them,” assured Trapattoni. “Everyone should wait until the dust settles and then make a judgement.”

Former Juventus director general Moggi is at the centre of the investigation, both for his rapport with referees and for his links with agency GEA, which is run by his son Alessandro.

“There has always been respect between Moggi and myself, although I never needed him. I know that, for example, when he was at Napoli he did help some Coaches.”

Lippi replaced Trap on the Italy bench and is preparing to lead the Azzurri into the 2006 World Cup.

“This squad has everything it needs to play a great tournament,” the veteran told ‘La Repubblica.’

As for Juventus, if the scandal intensifies and the worst case scenario plays out with their relegation to Serie B, its roster of stars will be looking elsewhere.

“Right now we don’t know anything about Fabrizio Miccoli’s future,” said agent Francesco Caliandro. “If Juve were to be relegated, then the player could terminate his contract.”

The pint-sized forward is still owned by the Bianconeri, but has spent this season on loan at Benfica.

Channel 4

 

[ReBeL]

It seems nobody in Italy is silent these days

Emerson's ex-wife gave her opinion in the next article...

If this's important, please translate:eyebrows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

L’ex moglie di Emerson: «La Juve paga in nero»



Sonia Emerson, ex moglie del campione della Juve, si trova improvvisamente catapultata nelle vicende di calcio e scandali di questi giorni. Circa un anno fa aveva rivelato in confidenza ad un amico finanziere dei particolari sul contratto del marito, ed ora sembra scatenare un'altra tempesta nell'uragano che si abbatte sulle teste di Moggi, Giraudo e compagnia. Da quanto ha rivelato pare che Emerson avesse con la Juventus due contratti, uno regolare al quale la Signora Emerson faceva affidamento per percepire gli alimenti, ed un altro apparentemente in nero. Il brasiliano dunque non avrebbe guadagnato «solo» 120mila euro al mese come da contratto ma molti di più e di quella parte Sonia Emerson non ha mai beneficiato. In più la signora, madre di una bambina, rivela «qualcuno ha anche messo il naso nel rapporto con mio marito, portandoci a separarci, la mia vita ora è un inferno». Ora Sonia è intenzionata a rivelare i retroscena di questa faccenda già da martedì, quando sarà ascoltata dai magistrati, ma è certo che il polverone si sta alzando e la possibile presenza di pagamenti in nero aggraverebbe ancor più la posizione degli ormai ex dirigenti bianconeri.

http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=90525