Italy Faces FIFA Ban if Juventus Goes to Court
The sordid and complex match fixing scandal that has rocked Italy’s domestic scene took a new turn today when FIFA announced that it might ban Italy and Italian clubs from participating in international competitions if Juventus continues to challenge their match fixing penalties in state court.
“If Juventus go before an administrative court, then FIFA pass the matter to its emergency committee,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said. “The committee wouldn’t even have to meet in person. It (the suspension of all Italian teams) could happen very quickly.”
A suspension could cost Italy a shot at qualifying for the Euro 2008 championships.
It is hard to pick a side to root for in this matter. On the one hand there is Juventus, which is trying to use every means possible to dodge responsibility for helping to ruin Serie A. On the other hand there is FIFA, which is always power hungry and is eager to maintain its authority in football.
No matter who comes out the winner, this has left a black stain on Italian football at a time when we should be talking about the Azzurri’s World Cup championship and the Serie A season ahead.
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 40 comments.
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By Carlo | August 25th, 2006 at 1:01 am 
What a pitiful display by Juventus. Being a loyal fan of the team for 16 years, it just saddens me to think of what they have done, and what their actions could still do, to Italian soccer. I just hope they come to their senses in time and bow out gracefully. This from a dedicated Juventus fan. As for all of you who are trying to use this to discredit Italy’s performance in the World Cup and whether or not they deserve to win or not, shame on you! What ethics do you have, in kicking a country when they are down? Lastly, and most importantly, as job touched on earlier, injustices happen every time thie World Cup comes around, and it always leaves the weak and pathetic crying over spilled milk, while the strong with character just smile and look forward to the next cup without bitterness, unlike Simon.
By zico | August 25th, 2006 at 7:03 am i was just reading the comments of simon. Is this guy for real?
Although I agree with Australia’s pain over that call but “under-handed foul manner” You have some serious issues buddy. Look at what Australia didn’t do. I rarely saw them truly threaten the net. Passing the ball around with no set game plan does not make a world cup contender. When are you as an Australian fan going to face up to the facts instead of blaming grosso for Australia’s failure. You need to just be happy Australia got out of the group let alone make the quarters. You should be blaming the ref for making the call or neill for that ridiculous challenge not grosso.
I hope you find some sensibility in four years and stop dwelling on italy as your sworn enemy. they may never play each other again. Sorry that you had to lose, that sucks, but you’re making a fool out of yourself now. It takes a man to look at ignorance and smile, try it, it’s therapeutic.
Posted from 
Canada
By luigi | August 25th, 2006 at 7:57 am Is fifa a french organization ?
This sticking of it’s nose into italian football’s business and throwing out idle threats sounds very french.
Posted from 
United States
By LAZARO | August 25th, 2006 at 8:16 am “Is fifa a french organization ?
This sticking of it’s nose into italian football’s business and throwing out idle threats sounds very french.”
Thanks for proving all the racist stereotypes so many of us have about ignorant italian fans.
Posted from United States
By zico | August 25th, 2006 at 10:28 am Lazaro, he who is without sin may cast the first stone. Powerful words by a powerful man.
Posted from Canada
By luigi | August 25th, 2006 at 11:20 am Yeah, Lazaro…go ahead and throw that stone.
Posted from United States
By pipes | August 25th, 2006 at 11:27 am Am I the only person to find it ironic that a Frenchman would accuse other nationalities of racism?
Posted from Canada
By Catherine | August 25th, 2006 at 12:23 pm “Thanks for proving all the racist stereotypes so many of us have about ignorant italian fans.”
Lazaro: isnt that a stereotype in itself?
Posted from Canada
By zico | August 25th, 2006 at 1:01 pm is lazaro even french? I wonder. I believe luigi’s comment is just an insult, I wouldn’t consider it a racist remark. I think Lazaro should stop going overboard with his accusations of racism. I think these days this racism thing is blown completely out of proportion. Most of the time this stuff is said in fun and doesn’t have any meaning. People should stop taking things so personal and just have a good laugh.
Posted from Canada
By Catherine | August 25th, 2006 at 1:50 pm zico, in response yo simon I agree with you partially.
Let’s not forget that Australia failed to challenge the net even though Italy was unjustly playing with one less player for the second half.
AND, unfortunately it was a foul on Grosso. The ref was merely 2 meters away and saw the whole thing. First his body was completely in front, didnt touch the ball (intention doesnt matter in football) and he LIFTED his arm to deliberately trip him. This angle can be viewed on http://www.youtube.com.
Australia has an amazing team and amazing players, but Italy won that game fair and square. Had they lost, people would have been saying they got cheated having to play one man down…
Posted from Canada
By Catherine | August 25th, 2006 at 1:55 pm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2PgG8j0gyQ
Here is the link so you can see.
As for Juve, they should just play the year in Serie B. It sucks for the players cause it is not them (but the management) who were the problem, and they are the ones paying the price. But that is life. Work you way back up to Serie A.
As for FIFA, they just want to control EVERYTHING.
Posted from Canada
By Catherine | August 25th, 2006 at 2:03 pm Oh and let me remind you (or inform you) that in football, it is not like hockey or American football: you dont have to injure another player (or hit them in a dirty manner or from the back) to be awarded a foul.
Fouls are awarded for many different reasons (like spitting, two-footed kick, etc). The rules can be read on http://www.fifa.com.
Posted from Canada
By zico | August 25th, 2006 at 2:26 pm Catherine, I can agree that the ref had the best view of the incident and he made the call, sometimes the ref sees more than what the cameras tell us. FIFA reviews questionable calls at the end of every match. Well the ref wasn’t sent home like so many others and he actually officiated another game. FIFA must agree with the call. Catherine speaking from experience it’s far more comforting to play the victim and claim the other team cheated you out of a win rather than admit your team just didn’t do enough or wern’t good or hungry enough. Italy and Korea is a prime example. Sure there were bad calls but Italy didn’t play hard enough and that’s why they lost.
Posted from Canada
By Catherine | August 25th, 2006 at 2:36 pm Zico, I will have to agree with you on that. =) Thanks for your comment.
Posted from Canada
By LAZARO | August 25th, 2006 at 3:29 pm “Am I the only person to find it ironic that a Frenchman would accuse other nationalities of racism?”
Who’s French? Huge assumption on your part. As if the only people who don’t support italy’s victory are French. I normally support South American football or Spain. I was rooting for Argentina, and then finally France because they were the only team left who play open, positive attacking football with flair and style, while still having a strong defense.
I’d have less problem with italy’s victory if Italy had had more than one credible match. I still wouldn’t support Italy but I’d say “yes, they earned it.” France faced far, far more than italy did. Before the final, Italy played against exactly one world class team: Germany. That’s it. And even that German team was full of youngsters inexperienced on the international stage. And italy had to fight like hell to win against them.
By contrast, France had to face 3 world class teams with players from Europe’s top clubs, many of them world cup champions and champions league champions; two of those teams had coaches who had won world cups. Those teams were Spain, Brazil and Portugal. None of the opponents Italy faced, other than Germany, matched or outclassed France’s opponents. None. Plus, France progressed DESPITE their coach, not with his help at all. It’s extraordinary what the French team achieved.
And then in the final, it was France who dominated in the 2nd half and in overtime while italy just hung back, exhausted, typically defending with 9 men, running completely out of ideas. Boring, negative football for most of the tournament, per usual.
Plus, France had had one day less to rest than Italy did, and still they were relentless. I’ve never enjoyed Italian football on the national level (club level is different, I’ve enjoyed many a Juve and AC Milan game while studying in Italy in the early 90s). So I’ve never supported the Italian team but I’m more than willing to give them credit when they win a credible victory - like 1982 and 1938 (sorry, I don’t count the Mussolini-bought referreed tournament of 1934). Hell, if they’d won against Brazil in 1994, I’d give them full credit, even with penalties. But this tournament? Please. One good match and a win on penalties, with the opponent dominating for the majority of the match playing better football.
Plus the cynical gamesmanship used against Zidane (yes, yes, stupid him for falling for it, doesn’t change the fact that it was a classless act of cynical gamesmanship in a world cup final). Sorry, I can’t take this victory seriously.
Posted from United States
By zico | August 25th, 2006 at 6:34 pm You cannot and should not discredit a win for any team. Lazaro, all your trying to do is spoil the moment for others so you can feel good about yourself. That’s quite a wonderful characteristic you possess. If I’m not mistaken according to you: France did something extraordinary and Italy did not. If this is your belief..so be it.
You really complicate matters too much and get worked up over little things. Simply put: This game is about survival. France were absolutely brilliant but Italy survived. That’s it, there’s nothing else. The rest is could of.. should of.. It’s too late for that. France did not seize the moment and Italy did. That’s all it takes to win the World Cup. Sorry if you can’t understand that.
Your comments are filled with acrimony and ill-will towards a team you despise as if they went out and murdered your family. I feel sorry for you if a few football games can have this much negative impact on your life. I sincerely hope your not a parent. You really need to lighten up.
Posted from Canada
By francesco | August 25th, 2006 at 7:06 pm lazaro get a life.and for fifa get out. of fans passion for soccer
Posted from United States
By JohnB | August 26th, 2006 at 6:22 am Hey Lazaro,
For someone who dislikes Italy so much you sure talk about them alot. OBSESS MUCH!
Posted from Canada
By pipes | August 26th, 2006 at 12:55 pm Your comment is awaiting moderation. August 25th, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Posted from Canada
By pipes | August 26th, 2006 at 12:56 pm Your comment is awaiting moderation. August 25th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Posted from Canada
By pipes | August 26th, 2006 at 12:57 pm Your comment is awaiting moderation. August 26th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Posted from Canada
By Adam Rupolo | August 27th, 2006 at 7:27 pm A lot of trash has been said yet again about the controversial penalty kick, the Zidane incident and all that crap that I’ve entirely lost interest in. Remember what this board is ACTUALLY about people!
Back on topic, firstly I think it’d be best if Juventus shut up and accepted their fate. But here’s the thing… guilty parties never do this. Murderers will plead innocent in criminal cases, be convicted file 1000 appeals and then try to get parole later. Its human nature to want less punishment even if you deserve it. So dont give them less punishment… its that simple. However, you cannot deny their right to protest through the legal system!
And to publicly blackmail them like this and attempt to inflict pain on a national team that has little to do with the Juventus officials?! This is unheard of!!!
I have realized and accepted by now that people are always bitter whenever the Italian soccer team wins anything. I can usually ignore this but I am completely and utterly STUNNED as to what can go through a person’s mind to think that Italy’s national team should be punished for the acts of Juventus. For shame!
I hate to imagine a Euro cup without the world cup champions due to the actions of others… but even more than this I hate to imagine that anybody could actually encourage this…
By luigi | August 28th, 2006 at 11:52 am So many sour grapes even after more than a month has passed.
Sour grapes makes bad wine Lazaro ! Especially sour “french” grapes. Quit yer wine-ing” and moveon.org
Posted from United States
By BOB | August 30th, 2006 at 7:04 pm Hey luigi,
I read Lazaro’s posts all over this site. He said he supports Argentina and France. Sounds like a bandwagon jumper to me. You can’t find any of his comments credible since he doesn’t actually have a team. He thinks he’s a football fan and he thinks he’s doing the world a favour by offering up his worthless mock-intelligence when in reality he’s the perfect loser.
Posted from Canada
By FORZA AZZURI | September 1st, 2006 at 3:43 pm UMM… LAZARO you should be sent to jail for drug possesion because you are definately high when you come on this blog. For gods sake you say France played 3 world class teams before final and italy played one. This is a bunch of bullshit. First we have Italy who plays Australia who actually happens to play a tough game though Italy were outnumbered. Yet even outnumbered Italy managed to create oppourtunities eventually one that gave them a penalty.
Meanwhile you have France against Spain. Aside from Spain’s known inconsistencies in knock-out rounds of the wc i know for a fact that Spain played their shittiest game of the wc whle France had played the best one of the world cup up to that point. in fact it seemed less difficult for france to beat spain then italy against Australia
Next we have Italy vs Ukraine and italy dominates i the same way France did against spain albeit with occasional pressure from Ukraine. France on the other hand is playing a Brazil who is doing shit. Honestly one of the worst Brazilian performances I have ever seen. Only reason it was 1-0 was because Brazil has the defence a world class team usually has.
Italy vs Germany- wow are you seriously saying Germany is full of young inexperienced players: many of their players have played international soccer and even the young players have stepped up. Germany’s force can be viewed in all their previous games. Meanwhile France against Portugal, well Portugal seemed to play better when under pressure and Henry’s penalty looked more like a dive then Grosso’s as in Grosso’s you can actually see contact where in Henry’s it is hard to see.
ON to the Finals and the REST IS HISTORY. ITALY ARE WORLD CHAMPIOINS. 4 STARS (1934 does count by the way no matter what you say. In fact italy were the best team in the 30’s and no one else even comes close
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