This examination of Italian Serie A’s darkest moments seeks to highlight the worrying side of Italian football.
From unpredictable tragedies to club scandals and unforeseen moments, join us as we navigate a succession of unforgettable events that have significantly influenced the league’s history and left a bad taste in the worldwide football arena.
‘Ultima Scommessa’ AKA The Last Bet Scandal (2011)
Five years post-Calciopoli scandal, Italian football faced renewed turmoil when police arrested 16 individuals in connection with an investigation into a purported betting and match-fixing syndicate, allegedly involving current and freshly retired players as key figures.
Giuseppe Signori, a former Italian national player and captain of Lazio, renowned as one of the nation’s most cherished players, was among numerous players, executives, and sportsbooks apprehended during the Cremona police’s investigation known as Ultima Scommessa, or ‘The Last Bet’ in English.
Instead of keeping wagering activities simple, legal, and easy by using a licensed site like bonusfinder.co.uk, those involved chose the harmful and deceitful approach. Authorities reported that the inquiry revealed an orchestrated scheme involving former and current footballers, sports-betting operators, and others to control match outcomes, with wagers amounting to tens of thousands and, in certain instances, hundreds of thousands of euros.
After more than 50 arrests and investigations into more than 20 games, starting at the Lega Pro level, the inquiry intensified in 2012 into the contaminated realm of gambling and Calcio. The names and matches expanded when Serie A became involved. The Cremonese police collaborated with their counterparts in Bari to identify more fixtures that had been manipulated or attempted to be manipulated for match-fixing. The accused included former Juventus coach Antonio Conte, who ultimately received a four-month suspension for neglecting to disclose an attempted match-fixing incident involving his then-club Siena and Novara.
This inquiry revealed nefarious operations linked to Calcio and organised crime. Following the revelation of deeply entrenched issues, an indelible blemish has been imprinted on Calcio, especially in the lower divisions, where players are less rich and more vulnerable to corruption.
Calciopoli (2006)
The noughties were a dark time for Italian football, particularly Juventus. In 2006, a scandal shook the world of football and is still regularly spoken about today.
Juventus, a dominant force in Serie A, were linked with a monetary scandal known as Calciopoli. The scandal exposed a network of illicit activities and match-fixing that shocked the footballing community and tarnished the club’s reputation.
Italian authorities conducted an investigation known as Calciopoli, sometimes referred to as “football gate,” to investigate allegations of referee selection bias and match-fixing. All was revealed when monitored phone calls among referees and club representatives were disclosed to the public. These recordings exposed a coordinated attempt by Serie A teams, mainly Juventus, to craft game outcomes and influence referee assignments.
It was claimed that the club played a major part in trying to mould referee choices in their favour. It implicated well-known Juventus personnel, such as the Juve CEO, Antonio Giraudo, and team manager Luciano Moggi. Moggi was alleged to have exerted influence over officials to favour Juventus during critical matches, which could have influenced the outcome of domestic titles.
The Calciopoli scandal was investigated by the FIGC (Italian Football Federation), and Juventus was convicted of sporting fraud in July 2006. Juventus was banished to Serie B for the subsequent season and deprived of its Serie A titles from 2006 and 2005. Furthermore, Juventus was penalised nine points for the commencement of their Serie B season. The scandal also led to substantial bans and penalties for numerous players and officials affiliated with the club.
The Calciopoli controversy significantly affected Italian football, and it’s not just one of the darkest moments in Italian football but in world football overall. The revelations tarnished Juventus’ reputation and compromised other influential clubs, such as Lazio, Fiorentina, and Milan. Consequently, these organisations were penalised, such as relegations and point deductions. The scandal ignited an outbreak of trust in Italian football, resulting in a decline in Serie A’s international reputation and the expression of disillusionment by supporters and sponsors.
The Battle of Santiago (1962)
The Battle of Santiago was a football match in the 1962 FIFA World Cup, contested between the host nation Chile and Italy on June 2, 1962, in Santiago.
The term originated from the game’s high degree of violence, characterised by two players being ejected, multiple punches exchanged, and police involvement occurring on four occasions.
Just before the commencement of the match, Italian journalists Corrado Pizzinelli and Antonio Ghirelli released a series of pieces in La Nazione and Corriere della Sera characterising the notion of Chile holding the event as “utter madness.”
Had the reports been restricted to Italy, the Battle of Santiago might not have occurred. Regrettably for the Azzurri, the Chilean media quickly became aware of the slanderous articles.
After English referee Ken Aston whistled to start the game, the Chileans struck immediately. The game’s first foul came after 12 seconds. The tone was set. Aston stopped a possible fistfight within five minutes. The game quickly became chaotic, and Aston saw Italian midfielder Giorgio Ferrini kick Honorino Landa after being fouled. Without choice, the Englishman fired Ferrini, but he refused to leave the pitch. Ferrini demanded justice after Landa was not booked for fouling him, but as he defied the crowd’s hisses and boos, the Chilean police squad eventually forced him from the pitch.
The game continued to deliver sheer violence, including a left hook from Leonel Sanchez – the son of a professional boxer – to the face of Italian defender Mario David. Sanchez wasn’t penalised, of course.
On multiple occasions in the second half, Chilean police were compelled to interfere to preserve a semblance of peace during the match. At times, the contest resembled rugby; at others, boxing; nevertheless, it rarely resembled football.
The Italians began to falter, and at the 73-minute mark, Chile scored the first goal. Three minutes later, Jorge Toro extended Chile’s advantage in the game’s final goal. Upon the match’s conclusion, the Italians hastily exited the pitch, apprehensive that the audience or, more ominously, the Chilean team may confront them.
Not to the fault of the Azzurri, but ‘The Battle of Santiago’ was a bloodbath, an embarrassment to the sport, and one of the darkest moments in football history.
Superga Air Disaster (1949)
At the time of this catastrophe, Torino had the best team and was an unstoppable force. The team had won four consecutive Serie A championships, and as many as ten of its players had represented Italy internationally.
When returning home from a testimonial match against Benfica, the jet crashed into a building on Superga Hill due to a combination of factors, including limited visibility and a malfunctioning navigation system.
The club and the Italian national team were both significantly weakened as a result of the tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of all of the passengers and crew members.
The tragic death of an entire team – the best in the country at that time – due to a horrific accident remains one of the darkest moments in Italian football history.