Italian Football Federation Upset With Juventus Fans
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
ROME (Oct 5, 1998 - 17:38 EDT) - The Italian Football Federation lashed out against Juventus fans who threw objects at reporters and tried to invade the Delle Alpi stadium press box during Sunday's Serie A match against Piacenza.
About 50 supporters, angry at what they see as a media campaign against their club and continued insinuations that Juve players take banned drugs, had to be restrained by police.
"This is intolerable and we condemn it absolutely," federation president Luciano Nizzola said on Monday. "The events of the last few days -- manipulation of the facts and in some cases the use of incorrect information -- cannot justify in any way this show of hostility and violence towards the press."
Juventus has been under the spotlight since AS Roma coach Zdenek Zeman said doping was widespread in Italian soccer and suggested Juve players might be involved.
Juve immediately announced it would sue the Czech coach for defamation.
