Napoli patron Aurelio De Laurentiis said there is “certainly a problem with referees and a sense of submission” towards Juventus. “Nothing happened after Calciopoli.”
The President gave a series of interviews to various different papers, including La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“There is certainly a problem with referees and a sense of submission towards Juventus, because the club is owned by the most powerful family in Italy. They should’ve come down hard after Calciopoli, instead nothing happened.
Napoli patron Aurelio De Laurentiis said there is “certainly a problem with referees and a sense of submission” towards Juventus. “Nothing happened after Calciopoli.”
The President gave a series of interviews to various different papers, including La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“There is certainly a problem with referees and a sense of submission towards Juventus, because the club is owned by the most powerful family in Italy. They should’ve come down hard after Calciopoli, instead nothing happened.
“Do you expect them to go up against the Agnelli family, against FIAT, against power? Before doing that, they’ll think it over 20,000 times.
“But the problem of poor refereeing is all over Europe. How is it possible that a handball isn’t seen in the box? I don’t know if Bayern Munich should’ve gone out of the Champions League to Real Madrid.
“And what about Roma? They were denied two penalties against Liverpool and at least deserved to play extra time.”
De Laurentiis was asked if he felt defrauded of a Scudetto following recent controversy in Inter 2-3 Juventus.
“I am sporting, I know how to play the game, I don’t like to put my guns on the table. Having said that, I do try to change the rules of the game. I say: be wary, by not giving credibility and taking away from the spectacle, we are only pushing people away from this sport.
“It’s only natural the referees are going to defend each other and their caste. The truth is that referees should not be part of the FIGC, they ought to be hired as freelancers and after three errors suspended.
“The clubs are the ones who finance everything and referees ought to be separate from all of that structure. I don’t want to think bad things, but it’s so obvious that something is not right.
“It’s not even just an issue of referees. UEFA and FIFA should depend on the ECA (European Club Association), because we put 6,000 players at their disposal and ought to have more say. The credibility of the sport is at stake.
“We in Italy have (UEFA refereeing designator Pierluigi) Collina against us.”
De Laurentiis also added to the discussion about VAR in a television interview with TV Luna.
“We could certainly have had a few more points if VAR had been used diligently. We’re missing a few penalties against a few other teams and the table would be more in our favour.
“I would take VAR away from referees and put some Coaches or technical judges in the booth, people who have nothing to do with the league. They just have to examine what happens on the field.
“I’d also give the Coaches two appeals each to call VAR into action if it doesn’t intervene automatically.”
He also elucidated on the issue of UEFA, Roma’s loss to Liverpool and Bayern Munich exiting to Real Madrid.
“What happened in Europe is disappointing, but behind football there is so much economic interest, sponsors and television stations. What would’ve been more important? A game between Roma and Bayern or one between Spanish and English sides? They are the two biggest countries in terms of revenue in football and get the highest ratings.
“When UEFA call the sponsors for next season’s Champions League, they might find them more easily, seeing the viewing figures earned with this Final.
“I would bring in VAR in Europe, but with the corrections I am proposing. Referees must be above all suspicion.”