15 minutes of fire
2-0 down after ten minutes, Lazio manage to equalise by the 15th minute.
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season had seen Lazio relegated due to the Totonero scandal.
Rumours that there was something wrong in Serie A had begun to circulate earlier in the year. At Cagliari Maurizio Montesi broke his leg and from the hospital spoke to the few journalists who went to see how he was. He was alone, none of the Lazio players had had the decency to drop by. He started talking of match fixing, agreements between clubs over results, and illegal betting.
In Italy one could not legally bet on the result of a single game or on the scores of a series of games. There was just the Totocalcio where one had to guess the result of 13 games. There was however an illegal betting system called Totonero run by illegal bookmakers similar to how legal bets were organised in the UK.
Match fixing had always been a problem in Italy and taken place since the early 1950s. Clubs and/or players would agree to share points during the season in a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” system. But then the players started to bet on these games. It was easy money, they knew what the result would be so why not have a little wager.
Alvaro Trinca was the owner of a restaurant in the centre of Rome where Lazio and Roma players would often go and eat before games. Massimo Cruciani was a fruit seller and was very friendly with a number of players. Both would hear the players talk of match fixing and therefore started to bet and win large sums of money. They teamed up and devised a plan which was to offer money to the players to fix games as well as bet money for them.
Their plan failed miserably and they were hugely indebted with people with whom you do not want to be indebted with. Apparently, they first asked the clubs for money but not all wanted to pay, then they presented their case to the Italian Football Federation but that was not going to solve the debts, so they then tried by resting their case with the law. They were later both arrested and started talking to the magistrates.
On March 23 1980, the Italian police arrested a number of players of Lazio, Milan, Bologna, Avellino, Genoa and Perugia. The scandal had exploded and Lazio were right in the middle of it. Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia, Massimo Cacciatori and Pino Wilson were among the players arrested.
Once the season finished there was the Sport Justice court case regarding the match fixing. The Lazio players were allegedly involved in the match fixing of Milan Lazio that ended 2-1 for the hosts and Lazio Avellino which finished 1-1.
The first sentencing between May and June gave Cacciatori and Wilson a life ban, Giordano and Manfredonia an 18-month suspension, Maurizio Montesi four months and Lazio were fined 10 million lire. At the time fans thought that all in all this was acceptable.
Others had even worse sentences. Milan were relegated (there was a direct involvement of the club President), Avellino, Bologna and Perugia given a 5-point docking. Among the various players, Enrico Albertosi got a life ban and Paolo Rossi 3 years.
The Lazio fans looked at the appeal case with optimism. They were wrong. Lazio were relegated to Serie B for the game against Avellino, Giordano and Manfredonia got a three-and-a-half-year suspension, Cacciatori 4 years and Wilson three years. Paolo Rossi’s suspension was reduced to two years, Albertosi's to four.
Why were Lazio relegated? There was no legal reason since none of the club managers were involved. The only reason was the fact that first sentences were considered too lenient and the Sports Justice system wanted to set an example. Hence, Lazio, always everybody’s favourite scapegoat, were relegated because it had a large number of players involved. But others were involved far deeper and got off lightly or with no penalisation at all. Lazio were a sacrificial lamb to keep the media happy.
Were the players guilty? Who knows. Wilson has hardly ever spoken about it. In his official biography though, he admitted having reached an agreement with some Milan players regarding Milan-Lazio. The plan was to let them win in Milan and Lazio in Rome. The Biancocelesti did not have much of a chance in Milan and the points at the end of the season could have been useful in case of a battle to stay in Serie A. He had nothing to do with betting, as also shown in the case files and his name appeared only for the Milan match. But Montesi accused him of being the ring leader, probably because a name had to be given, so to save himself he chose the player that had less to lose.
These types of agreements had always happened in Italian football, this was no different from other similar agreements like in the last matches of the season when one team needed a point to stay in Serie A and the other maybe a point for a UEFA Cup qualification. The games would practically be non- starters. This is a violation of every Sports Code, and if the agreement is reached among clubs, if found guilty, these should be relegated or given point deductions. And if it is between players, these, if found guilty, should be suspended. If the players take money all that has to be done is to verify and check.
Manfredonia stated in an interview that he paid a rather large price compared to what he actually did. So maybe when Wilson announced that they were going to lose the Milan game, he complied. He did not play the match against Avellino, so he can’t have been guilty for that.
Giordano proclaims his innocence to this day. In his official biography he claims that Trinca and Cruciani tried to blackmail President Umberto Lenzini who refused to pay. When the magistrates asked him if he had got some extra cash Giordano denied it, saying “check my bank statements”. This is probably what they did and as a consequence none of the players were found guilty in the legal court case.
Where does the truth lie? A few facts are almost certain. Milan- Lazio was fixed by the players. The club had nothing to do with it. The rest is just speculation. Lazio, some Lazio players and Lazio fans paid a very high price for the Italian Football Federation's need to find guilty parties, whether they were actually guilty or not. And unfortunately, it would not be the only time. Claudio Vinazzani’s friendship with a Neapolitan illegal bookie, who was fixing games, translated into a 9-point deduction for the 1986-87 season, despite Lazio not being involved. President Claudio Lotito’s requests for decent referees would cost Lazio a 30-point deduction in the 2005-06 season and 3 points for the following one in the Calciopoli farce. Stefano Mauri’s friendship with a player who fixed games cost him a six-month suspension and jail time, even if he was innocent.
Lazio had invested a lot for the 1980-81 season and even signed Rene Van de Kerkhof, the Dutch star, but he was not eligible to play in Serie B so the deal did not go through.
Other players signed were Alberto Bigon and Stefano Chiodi from Milan (with Mauro Tassotti going the other way), goalkeepers Maurizio Moscatelli (Pistoiese), Aldo Nardin (Lecce) and Dario Marigo (Chieti), defenders Giorgio Mastropasqua and Arcadio Spinozzi (both from Bologna), midfielders Dario Sanguin (Vicenza) and Giuseppe Greco (Torino). Saying goodbye to Lazio, apart from Tassotti, were hero Vincenzo D’Amico (Torino), Antonio Lopez (Palermo) and Vincenzo Zucchini (Vicenza). Andrea Agostinelli and Roberto Badiani were sent on loan to Pistoiese, Stefano Ferretti to Empoli.
The manager was rising star Ilario Castagner who had led Perugia to a historic second place just a couple of seasons earlier.
After 15 games Lazio were top of the table with a one-point lead over Milan and four over third place (the first three were promoted). A long way to go yet but there was optimism. The Biancocelesti had won 7 and drawn 8 and had not lost yet. Chiodi had started playing in the beginning of November and had scored three goals.
Then came Lazio vs Milan, first game of 1981. The Rossoneri easily won 2-0. The shock probably instilled a doubt in the player’s mind and in the next game they lost at Cesena.
The match: Sunday, January 18, 1980, Stadio Menti, Vicenza
Paolo Rossi in the days preceding the game had said that Lazio were not all that great and the Biancocelesti made sure not to contradict him in the beginning of the game.
In the first minute, Paolo Pochesci ridiculously conceded a free kick on the right. Paolo Rosi crossed, Claudio Vagheggi headed the ball towards the goal. It should have been a simple save for Aldo Nardin but the keeper first dropped the ball then as he fell to ground inadvertently kicked it in his own net. Ten minutes later Dario Sanguin tried to pass to Carlo Perrone in Lazio’s half, Vagheggi intercepted and flew towards Nardin who came out of his area rather rigidly. The future Lazio forward dribbled past him and it was 2-0 for the home team.
The Biancocelesti reacted and by the 15th minute it was 2-2. First Stefano Chiodi with a marvellous acrobatic volley in the 14th minute reduced the deficit, then Pochesci with a powerful shot 60 seconds later from the same position as Chiodi’s goal, equalised.
The 15-minute fireworks ended the game as neither team were willing to put the draw in peril. What followed was just boredom.
In the end a good point for the Biancocelesti even if we can only ask ourselves whether the glass is half empty or half full.
Who played for Vicenza
Bianchi, Catellani, Zanini (68' Tosetto), Leonarduzzi, Bombardi, Carrera, Dal Prà (68' Briaschi), Sandreani, Pagliari, Rosi, Vagheggi
Substitutes: Di Fusco, Erba, C. Perrone
Manager: Viciani
Who played for Lazio
Nardin, Spinozzi, Citterio, Perrone, Pochesci, Sanguin (67’ Manzoni), Viola, Bigon, Chiodi, Mastropasqua, Greco (72’ Albani)
Manager: Castagner
Referee: Angelelli
Goals: 1’ Nardin (og), 10’ Vagheggi, 14’ Chiodi, 15’ Pochesci
What happened next
Lazio managed to stay second until mid-April, then Cesena overtook them.
In mid-May with five games to the end of the season Lazio were third, two points clear of Genoa. Then, enter referee Alberto Michelotti. In the home game against Sampdoria, there was a corner for Lazio. Mastropasqua crossed, Gianluca De Ponti tried to head the ball but blatantly handballed it. A clear penalty right under the eyes of the linesman. But Michelotti had no intention of listening to him and the linesman no intention of changing the ref’s mind. Lazio lost that game and Genoa won. Milan first on 46 points, Cesena 42, Lazio and Genoa 41. In the next game Cesena won, Lazio and Genoa drew. With three games to the end came the mother of all games at the Olimpico: Lazio-Cesena. The Biancocelesti needed to win and they did, so with two games to go all three teams were tied on 44 points. Final home game Lazio-Vicenza.
The Biancocelesti were very nervous and played terribly. Claudio Vagheggi scored for the Vicentini in the 55th minute, Paolo Pochesci equalised a quarter of an hour later. In the 87th minute, penalty for Lazio. Biancocelesti supporters invaded the pitch in celebration. It took forever to take the spot kick but everybody was sure that Lazio had won, Chiodi had never missed a penalty, not even in training. He did this time. Genoa and Cesena had won, promotion was lost.
The players with most appearances this season were Citterio and Viola with 43 games and the top scorer was Bigon with 10 goals
Lets talk about Luciano Moggi
Luciano Moggi is considered to be the big baddie of Italian football. Involved in a lot of controversy over his career, he was however, one of the most influential characters in Serie A.
Born on July 10, 1037, in Moticiano near Siena, he began his career in football as a mediocre defender in Serie D teams. As director he began with Juventus in the 1970s. His boss was Italo Allodi for whom he developed a network of scouts in the search for young talent. Among his “discoveries” were Paolo Rossi, Claudio Gentile and Gaetano Scirea. After a couple of years, he left Turin and began to work for Roma President Gaetano Anzalone as transfer consultant. He was the one who brought Roberto Pruzzo to the wrong side of the Tiber, anticipating Juve.
He did not last long with Roma. When Dino Viola became president, he found out that Moggi, before a game against Ascoli at home, had dined with the referee. Viola was not pleased and Moggi was kicked out.
In the summer of 1980 Lazio were relegated following the Totonero scandal. There was a need to rebuild and President Umberto Lenzini gave the reins to Moggi who became managing director. He stayed two years, also working as sporting director, had frequent clashes with Antonio Sbardella, and quit after two years.
In 1982 he joined Torino and stayed for five years obtaining a second place in the 1984-85 season. He left after heavy criticism, following a cut in expenditure which the fans did not agree with.
In June 1987 he signed for Napoli who had just won their first scudetto with Diego Armando Maradona. With Napoli he won the UEFA Cup in 1989, scudetto and Supercoppa in 1990. In 1991 he left and went back to Torino with whom he reached the UEFA Cup final in 1992 and won a Coppa Italia in 1993.
In 1994 he got into trouble. Together with his collaborator Luigi Pavese, he was accused of favouring prostitution. Apparently, some prostitutes, invited by him, regularly went to greet the referees when Torino played at home. The club paid the ladies via slush funds. His collaborator took all of the blame and Moggi was let off.
After a brief period back at Roma, he joined Juventus in 1994. He stayed 12 years and together with CEO Antonio Giraudo and Roberto Bettega formed a directors team that gave Juve five league titles, a Champions League, a Coppa Italia, an Intercontinental Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and four Italian Supercoppas.
But all of this ended with Calciopoli.
Calciopoli
Towards the end of the 2005-2006 season, a scandal rocked Italian football to the core. Known in the media as Calciopoli, it was basically wiretappings of phone conversations between high level executives in the Italian Football Federation, referees and Referee Association officials, journalists and heads of many Italian football clubs.
The tapped conservations implied a system that would favour some clubs in refereeing decisions, in exchange for career moves. No money was involved, or at least there was no proof of any money being involved.
Moggi was the central figure in the scandal. He used his power, and that of Juventus, to have “friendly” referees that could occasionally close one or two eyes in case of need. The most controversial games were a Juve-Inter of 1998, when a clear penalty on Ronaldo was ignored, de facto handing the scudetto to the Bianconeri over Inter, and the infamous disallowed Fabio Cannavaro goal in Juve-Parma of 2000 which almost cost Lazio the scudetto.
Juventus has always been accused of being helped by refs but nobody thought that there was a real system behind all of this. Moggi had constant relationships with the head of referees and often put pressure on them to get some lenient men in black for his games and/or his allies.
He was accused of sports misconduct and his career ended. The court case condemned Moggi who was given a five-year jail sentence reduced to two years and four months on appeal. The Supreme Court of Cassation acquitted him due to the statute of limitations, but ruled that Moggi was actively involved in the sporting fraud, which was intended to favour Juventus and increase his own personal benefits.
Recent activity
After Calciopoli Moggi has worked as a journalist and pundit voicing opinions on present events as well as the past. He has always claimed to be innocent.
Sources
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