World cup 2006: Italy interrupted

By European Football
May 12 2006

The New York Times is calling it ‘the biggest scandal in the history of Italian soccer’, which for me proves two things about the Americans, one they are still arrogant enough not to realise that its called football, or as its Italian Calico, Foot because you use your feet you see,

And ball because…well there is a ball; really it’s a point so simple your president could probably grasp it.

Two, Americans really do not understand Italians, scandal, corruption and a certain style is what Italy abounds in. America may have the first two, but anyone unlucky enough to have to witness a gaggle of 45 stone Americans in shorts, sweating around Florence in the summer, will testify to a complete absence of the third of those.

It started with a taped phone call, which is how many of these things begin, as Prince Charles turned himself into a tampon in order to flirt with that woman who looks like a horse and will one day be queen, will no doubt testify to.

Juventus, that often accused and seldom found guilty bastion of all things Italian were caught discussing the assignment of referees for league games with Pierluigi Pairetto, the refereeing official for Italy's FA.

But that was only the tip of it. Other parts of the transcripts, named by investigators, show much more: players and managers being threatened and blackmailed; numerous discussions over refereeing assignments before games; the alleged collusion of coaches, federation officials and a popular football talk-show host; the blacklisting of those who challenged the corruption; and, of course, the lavish greasing of palms.

Then yesterday Juve’s entire board of directors resigned.

The Italian press are in free for all with the Corriere della Sera Proclaiming:
"No one will be saved."

Before going on to rather dramatically state:

"Between Napoli, Roma and Torino, already Calico seems to be almost entirely under investigation."

Of course Juventus are owned by the Agnelli family, who also happen to own Fiat, which has prompted Mario Corsi, the host of a football radio show and a Roma fan to state:

"This is the biggest scandal of all time because it involves the team of Fiat."
It has to be said that Corsi has used his show over the past few years to try and highlight what he feels is wrong in Italian football, a stance which has won him many admirers, myself included and a few powerful enemies.

Juventus are Italy’s most successful team winning 28 league titles, with possibly another one on its way on Sunday, it has been rocked by scandal many times before, always being ultimately found innocent and its board of directors treat as wounded Christian martyrs, but this time there is just a hint that it may turn out differently, with La Gazzetta dello Sport proclaiming in an editorial on its front page:

"After years of morass, of half-phrases never fully said, of people knowing but not saying a little out of fear, a little out of convenience and a little because many things are just like this in the world something is starting to move us,"
Currently the investigation is centred upon nine teams and national coach Marcello Lippi, is adamant that it will not interfere with his build up.

If this was any other country in Europe, I would say it would, but this isn’t any other country, it’s Italy.

It will probably be just the build up the national side needs.

Forza Italia.