Lazio risk new Calciopoli scandal

[D-Kin]

Lazio risk new Calciopoli scandal Saturday 27 October, 2007

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Calciopoli may not be over yet, as Lazio risk a points penalty after a phone call between Delio Rossi and Claudio Lotito was released.

The Coach and President were intercepted when discussing the upcoming game with Lecce – the match that was the focus of their part in the Calciopoli trial – on April 17, 2006.

Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has deferred both to the Disciplinary Commission and is particularly harsh on Rossi.

“He attempted, without success, during a telephone conversation to induce S.S. Lazio President Claudio Lotito to take an initiative with the U.S. Lecce directors aimed at influencing the performance of the squad in the April 30, 2006 match,” read the legal documents.

Palazzi is reportedly ready to ask for the maximum penalty, which could be a year-long ban for Rossi and a two-point penalty for Lazio.

The case will be looked at by the FIGC at the start of November, but in the meantime the telephone conversation has been released in its entirety on an Italian website.

In it Rossi can be heard stating: “We have to start the negotiations with Lecce because we need them to be softened when they come here to play.”

President Lotito has reacted angrily to these accusations and started legal proceedings against the site that has the audio file.

“When he talked about softening Lecce, he purely meant the transfer market, as we were looking to sign Cristian Ledesma,” assured the Lazio patron.

“I am tired of underlining the inadequacy of a law that has allowed the telephone interceptions to be used in this manner.”

Lecce, who went on to be relegated that year and did sell Ledesma to Lazio in the summer, also insisted the calls were innocent.

“I was only called for my opinion on the value of Ledesma,” assured former Lecce director of sport Carlo Regalia, whose name was mentioned in the call.

“I told the then Lazio director of sport Carlo Osti that he was a very good player and a great professional. I also said Rossi knew him well along with other players in the squad, as he had been a Lecce Coach, so he could comfortably have rung me instead of getting others to do it.

“As for the match on April 30, 2006, I have absolutely no doubts on the professionalism of both clubs.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

It sounds like a misunderstanding to me but you never know.

This thing with Ledesma does seem a little too convenient....

[D-Kin]

Rossi rejects 'trial by media' Saturday 27 October, 2007

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Lazio boss Delio Rossi has refused to talk to the media after an intercepted telephone conversation was published in a national newspaper.

The call between Rossi and President Claudio Lotito has been used to imply the tactician had urged the club to contact Lecce and “soften them up” ahead of their upcoming Serie A match last season.

In response, the Coach has released a statement declaring a Press silence until his position can be clarified by the sporting justice system.

“I have decided to do this because I am watching a trial by media against me. They want me tried and strung up in the town square,” said the statement.

“Instead I want to be judged by people who can do so in a relaxed and professional manner. So I will no longer talk about football or non-football matters until the judgment is in. I cannot split the man from the Coach, this is my decision.”

As Rossi walked away, he also gave the media one last comment about this new Calciopoli scandal.

“Time is a gentleman and in time we will see the correct view of these events when I have been judged.”

There are reports that the contents of the telephone call could see Rossi suspended for up to a year and Lazio docked two points.

channel4.com - Football Italia