Airport Scuffle After Juve Exit
Thursday 9th November 2000
Juventus fans clashed with players on Wednesday night as they returned from
Athens, where a 3-1 Champions' League defeat by Panathinaikos put them out
of all European competition this season.
The worst scenes occurred at Turin airport, where Juve Ultras waited until
dawn to make their feelings known to the team, who failed even to qualify
for the Uefa Cup after finishing bottom of Group E.
They encountered players as they left the baggage reclaim hall to board
their coach, directing their attack first at keeper Edwin van der Sar, who
conceded a penalty and was sent off against Panathinaikos.
"If you didn't want to play, you should have stayed at home," he was told.
The supporters then turned their attentions to Zinedine Zidane, who
travelled with the party despite serving a suspension following his
dismissal against Hamburg two weeks ago.
He was pushed, which provoked a minor fracas, involving general manager
Luciano Moggi, midfielder Paolo Montero and striker Daniel Fonseca. Police
eventually had to step in to escort the fans away.
The scenes followed earlier disturbances at Athens airport, when around 30
Juve fans tried to enter the room in which president Vittorio Chiusano,
vice-president Roberto Bettega and managing director Antonio Giraudo were
waiting for the flight.
They were stopped, but contented themselves with chanting at the three
officials, saying that they should be ashamed of Juventus's failure to
qualify even for the Uefa Cup.
