A scandal

Updated: Oct 4

Season 1983-84

Game 13, Serie A

Sunday, December 18

Rome, Stadio Olimpico

Lazio Udinese 2-2

One of the biggest refereeing scandals in Lazio’s history. Gino Menicucci denies Lazio a deserved win and allows Udinese to draw. President Giorgio Chinaglia has to be restrained by several Lazio staff members.

In the first 12 games Lazio won three times (including beating Inter 3-0), drew twice and lost all the remaining matches. Giancarlo Morrone was fired, and replaced by Paolo Carosi, another former Lazio player, on the eve of this game.

The match

It was very, very wet, gloomy and cold. Bruno Giordano was injured and Joao Batista suspended. Vincenzo D’Amico, as often happened in moments of crisis, took Lazio by the hand. A win would be absolutely fundamental.

Paolo Carosi had just arrived as new manager so Lazio did not really have much of a game plan. However, Udinese was completely absent so the Biancocelesti took advantage. Zico fouled Claudio Vinazzani 30 meters from the Udinese goal in the 19th minute and D’Amico took the free kick. His marvellous shot made it 1-0 for Lazio.

Udinese did not react and Lazio made it two. In the 36th minute D’Amico dribbled past a number of Udinese players and sent the ball in the penalty box. Angelo Cupini was ready to volley it in to make it 2-0.

Lazio was in control but along came Menicucci. Five minutes later he sent Gabriele Podavini off for having allegedly offended the linesman. The Lazio right back swears, to this day, that all he did was to say to the linesman that it was not a corner. And that he did insult somebody, but it is was a team mate! Lazio was however down to ten men.

In the second half Lazio pulled back to defend and Udinese had numerous chances to score. Luigi De Agostini hit the crossbar in the 78th minute and a few seconds later Edinho’s shot from outside the box went under a number of legs and into the back of the net. Menicucci then decided he wanted to be the absolute protagonist of the show and frustrated the Lazio players with countless controversial decisions. It was rumoured that there was bad blood between the Florentine ref and Giorgio Chinaglia before the match, so perhaps this explains the hostility.

Lazio seemed to cope defensively but then in injury time Udinese was awarded a free kick. Vinazzani was the only player forming the wall but Menicucci walked up and stood directly in front of him, not allowing the Lazio player to counter the cross. Edinho had all the time in the world and a clear path to send in the cross and Pietro Paolo Virdis equalised.

Chinaglia, who was nervously watching the game from the players entrance, at the final whistle stormed furiously onto the pitch screaming at Menicucci, brandishing his umbrella, ready to take justice in his own hands. He was blocked with great difficulty, held back by his friend and legendary Lazio busdriver Alfredo Recchia.

“It’s a scandal. Everybody saw what happened on the pitch. Referees who make fun of so many fans should not be allowed to ref”, he will say the end of match. “I have never seen anything like this in all my years in football”.

Who played for Lazio

Cacciatori, Filisetti, Podavini, Manfredonia, Miele, Spinozzi, Cupini (61’ Piga), Vinazzani, D’Amico (89’ Della Martira), Laudrup, Piraccini