Roma Fury At Juve Over 'Illicit' Talks With Ref
Monday 11th February 2002
Juventus have been accused of trying to influence referee Graziano Cesari by sending two leading officials to his room at half-time in the goalless draw with Roma on Sunday night.
"They had no right to be there," said Roma team manager Tonino Tempestilli, who was sent to the stands for complaining about the apparent infringement of League rules, which state that only coaching staff and players can address the referee.
At the end of first half, I saw Antonio Giraudo complaining to the referee about the red card given to Mark Iuliano," explained Tempestilli. "Mr Giraudo was with Juve general manager Luciano Moggi, who was not behaving in a suitable manner.
"Defending the interests of my club, I emphasised that they couldn't speak to the referee. Giraudo answered me in a very rude way, so I told him he should learn some manners. Referee Cesari then sent me off, explaining that he had no other option."
Roma coach Fabio Capello backed up the story. I saw Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo inside the referee's room during the interval," he said.
Moggi claimed on the Controcampo TV programme that his meeting with Cesari had been a chance encounter in the tunnel as he and Giraudo headed to speak with the Juve team.
He later told Domenica Sportiva that the conversation with the referee may have happened in the doorway of his room. Cesari is expected to give his version of events in his report to the Italian League.
Roma and Juve have a history of bust-ups which have, in recent times, centred on claims by Roma president Franco Sensi that the Turin side are favoured by match officials.
