The Latest Calciopoli Twist: Banned for Purity

By: Martha | July 18th, 2007

Referee Gianluca Paparesta — once considered among the best officials in Italy — was one of those banned last season (and I believe he’s currently still suspended — someone correct me if I’m wrong) after being proved a cog in the giant, seething mass of corruption that touched practically all of calcio. He was alleged to be one of the officials who had contact with corrupt parties, and were paid off in a variety of ways for giving friendly results to Juve; as a result, he’s seen his reputation badly tarnished.

BUT! Paparesta (possibly the only referee not named “Collina” who has his own website) is fighting back today, thanks to the release of tapes in which he claims to have been frozen out by referee designator Paul Bergamo back in 2004 — for failing to help Juve. According to Paparesta, after refereeing a 2-2 Coppa Italia draw between Lazio and Juventus, he mysterious didn’t officiate another game for an entire month, allegedly because he’d failed to toe the Moggi Line and played a part in Juve failing to win the Cup. Sigh.

If true, this is not the only time Paparesta ran afoul of Juve — he’s the official who was famously locked in his dressing room by Moggi after having the nerve to oversee a loss to Reggina. (Moggi then proceeded to run off with the key, leaving Paparestra and his assistants trapped in the room.) So, wait. Why was he suspended again?

What’s been released, as far as I can tell, are only tapes of Paparesta testifying; their existence by no means is a sign that what he says is true. But, I mean, come on. Does anyone seriously doubt that it is? It’s going to be a long, long time before this thing goes away.

Category: Juventus, Rumors & News, Serie A

Tags: Juventus, Rumors -amp; News, Serie A

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Comments  

• Sofia |  July 18th, 2007 at 10:07 am

  
  
  

  damn tht almost makes you feel guilty for supporting juve last season…wait no i was wrong…

  i hate moggi he is an inconsiderate asshole who is only out for the money and i hate him for not having faith in juve therefore seeing fit to have to pay off refs. his son is no better in my books

  Posted from Canada

  

• Ady |  July 18th, 2007 at 10:59 am

  
  
  

  To continue with the movie quotes; The shit piled up so fast in calcio, you needed wings to stay above it.

  I imagine there were a lot of people besides Paparesta being squeezed in this one and we will probably never know the whole truth of the matter. And we might not want to.

  Moggi locked the officials in their dressing room?!

  No, I truly cannot see Cannavaro wanting to be associated with Juve again. I don’t for a minute believe him to be naive, but doesn’t drink and he’s still married to his childhood sweetheart, so the man’s got some character.

  Posted from United States

  

• chris g |  July 18th, 2007 at 2:26 pm

  
  
  

  I don’t know where else to put this, but guess who is about to sign for Fiorentina……..

  Bobo.

  Posted from United States

  

• Anthony |  July 18th, 2007 at 2:29 pm

  
  
  

  I still believe that this was a plan orchestrated By Inter and Moratti’s enourage and it seems juve are the only ones guilty what about miln lazio and fiorentina every one forgot them.Moratti was sick of juve and went for the kill.Enemies always have a hand in your downfall.

  Posted from Canada

  

• roswitha |  July 18th, 2007 at 7:05 pm

  
  
  

  Nobody forgot Milan, Lazio or Fiorentina. They got punishments corresponding to the evidence produced against them.

  Also: BOBO IN FIORENTINA?!

  Posted from India

  

• k |  July 18th, 2007 at 8:53 pm

  
  
  

  *cough* what evidence?! granted im a biased milan fan, but the evidence against was just downright stupid, and it was regarding games that hurt us more than helped us… also from what i have heard, all the evidence that supported us ‘disappeared’ before the trial and then ‘re-appeared’ once the trial was done… and if anyone wants to believe that if this went on so openly in italy and scummiest of scum people like moratti didnt get into the act, then they must be really naive

  Posted from United Arab Emirates

  

• Martha |  July 18th, 2007 at 11:10 pm

  
  
  

  Chris, if that’s true you will hear me weeping with joy all the way from Portugal. (Though bringing someone like Bobo in just as Mutu’s finally calmed down seems a VERY bad idea.)

  Posted from Portugal

  

• roswitha |  July 19th, 2007 at 2:20 am

  
  
  

  K,

  I’m a Milan fan as well! I wanted only to point out that Milan, Lazio or Fiorentina, or Reggina, did not get off scot-free. They’ve all undergone due legal process, and suffered in various ways this past season. There’s no need to believe that Juve were unfairly shafted just because they had to go to Serie B. The evidence produced against them was great enough for the tribunal and CONI to uphold relegation, as well as the points docking, and the title-stripping. The others did not have punishments reduced on appeal just because the judges were in a good mood.

  But Martha must be yawning at my going on about this for the zillionth time.

  Posted from United States

  

• Sofia |  July 19th, 2007 at 6:12 am

  
  
  

  well i think we all know that moratti had a hand in this seeing as he and his team was the main benefiaries of this. and the whole telecom italia thing…

  Posted from Canada

  

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