By David Gold
July 20 – Juventus have said they intend to pursue their petition to have Inter Milan’s 2006 Serie A title taken away after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) ruled that it did not have the authority to make such a ruling.
Inter Milan were awarded the 2006 Scudetto after the Calciopoli scandal which rocked Italian football and led to several teams facing points penalties for influencing the results of games through the selection of particular referees.
Juventus were stripped of both the 2005 and 2006 titles and relegated to Serie B as a result.
The Bianconeri’s general manager at the time of the Calciopoli affair, Luciano Moggi, was banned for life from all footballing activity last month by the FIGC.
As well as Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were all given a range of punishments in 2006, mainly points deductions, as well as fines and being forced to play games behind closed doors.
The Turin outfit submitted the petition after evidence heard in a court in Napoli implicated the Nerazzurri in the affair.
Juventus said: “The decision of the FIGC confirms an inequality of treatment in similar circumstances.
“It is understood that, in order to protect their millions of fans, as well as the shareholders and employees, Juventus must pursue the right and proper verification of facts while looking for treatment equality.
“Therefore, the club’s lawyers have been given the mandate to identify the best protection instruments in administrative and international law.
“Since today’s decision is far from providing equality and justice, Juventus want to assert all the internationally applicable rules at every relevant office.”
The FIGC said in a statement earlier this week that they did not have the authority to revoke a decision made by a disciplinary board.
“The Federal Council [Executive Committee] has turned down Juventus’ petition regarding the 2006 Scudetto with a declaration that it is not competent to revoke it,” read a statement issued by the FIGC.
Giancarlo Abete, the President of the Federation, said: “I don’t believe taking it to the courts would be the best choice but I’d respect the decision.
“The credibility of the system is tied to respect for the rules.”
The continuation of the 2006 dispute comes amid the backdrop of a new scandal which has engulfed Italian football in recent months.
In June, 16 people were arrested under suspicion of being part of a gang fixing Italian football matches in the lower leagues, with former Italy forward Beppe Signori (pictured) one of those charged.
The investigation was sparked by a game between Cremonese and Paganese in Serie C1 last November, when suspicions were aroused that Cremonese players had their drinks spiked at half time after a number went down sick after the match.
The affair centres on a number of other games in the second and third tiers of Italian football, and mysterious betting patterns.
Juventus, who speedily won promotion back to Serie A after the 2006 affair but have struggled since, finishing seventh last season, are expected to take the case to the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) as the next stage of their campaign.
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