Maurizio Zamparini declares Palermo’s “fight to avoid relegation was conditioned directly by the referee” in yesterday’s Carpi-Empoli match.
The Biancorossi re-established a three point cushion over the Sicilian side with a 1-0 win yesterday, but Paolo Valeri’s officiating was controversial.
Maurizio Zamparini declares Palermo’s “fight to avoid relegation was conditioned directly by the referee” in yesterday’s Carpi-Empoli match.
The Biancorossi re-established a three point cushion over the Sicilian side with a 1-0 win yesterday, but Paolo Valeri’s officiating was controversial.
Empoli Coach Marco Giampaolo said the performance of the referee “should anger the teams fighting against relegation”, and it has certainly struck a nerve with the Rosanero patron.
“The fight to avoid relegation was conditioned directly by the referee Paolo Valeri in the Carpi-Empoli match yesterday,” a statement from the President on Palermo’s official website read.
“There were three absurd incidents, which are documented in the frames attached to this Press release, confirming what we all saw on television yesterday.
“1) The sending-off of [Levan] Mchedlidze was non-existent and was blatant simulation by the Carpi player. We therefore ask the prosecutor to intervene with TV evidence against [Marco] Crimi, the player who simulated the blow to the face.
“2) Empoli’s disallowed goal. An absurd refereeing invention, as shown by the pictures enclosed in which the Empoli striker, [Manuel] Pucciarelli, doesn’t touch the Carpi defender before receiving the ball.
“3) PENALTY NOT GIVEN FOR SHIRT-PULLING AND SUCCESSIVE HAND-BALLS COMMITTED BY [Fabrizio] POLI ON PUCCIARELLI [sic].”
A fourth bullet point listed the post-match comments of several Empoli players complaining about the referee. All points were accompanied by screenshots of the incidents.
“We invite the prosecutor to monitor the next games and the protagonists in the relegation battle very carefully over the next games to avoid similar incidents.
“President Maurizio Zamparini is very concerned about these incidents which have been repeated since the beginning of the season [see penalties in our favour not given, and penalties against us which were clearly invented].
“The English League should be taken as an example. He invites the Prosecutor to gather information and take measures to ensure the proper functioning of competitions in the future.”