Juve appeal stand closure for racist chants
Print Edition
ITALIAN champions Juventus are appealing the one-match closure of their south stand, saying the club should not be punished for racist chanting by a few fans towards Napoli’s Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly during a league game two weeks ago.
Italian Football Federation observers reported hearing Koulibaly targeted by the chanting in the game on September 29 which hosts Juventus won 3-1 to move six points clear of Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
As a result, the ‘Curva Sud’ will be closed for one game — against Genoa on October 20 — when the champions push to keep their 100 percent record with a ninth win in the league this season.
“I don’t believe that the club should bear the responsibility for racist chants that none of us like to see or hear,” said Juventus lawyer Luigi Chiappero.
“There’s an obvious disparity of treatment between Juventus and other clubs.
“It is time to apply individual responsibility, at least where technology allows it, as in the case of Allianz Stadium.”
The Italian FA also fined the club 10,000 euros (US$11,500).
Meanwhile, Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici said yesterday it was not easy to replace a player of the calibre of Cristiano Ronaldo as he also dismissed a return to Italy for Manchester United’s French World Cup winner Paul Pogba.
Ronaldo, 33, joined Juventus from Real Madrid last summer for 100 million euros. The Spanish club have lost three and drawn one of their last four matches and are currently fourth in La Liga.
“Ronaldo is probably the best player in the history of the game so he isn’t easy to replace,” Paratici said at the Manlio Scopigno ceremony at Rieti in central Italy after receiving a “Manager of the Year” award.
Paratici revealed that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had been keen from the outset to join Juventus.
“We talked about it initially, and straight away we got the feeling he wanted to join us, which was a huge advantage,” he said.
“Real Madrid had a gentleman’s agreement with him, the ownership kicked things off and negotiations began.”
Paratici stressed Juventus’ support for the Portuguese star Ronaldo, currently embroiled in damaging rape allegations.
“Cristiano is a very simple person and an excellent professional, he has all our support,” said Paratici.
The Juventus sporting director ruled out a return of French World Cup winner Pogba, who played for the Turin side from 2012 to 2016.
The 26-year-old Pogba has been told he will not captain United again after reportedly falling out with United manager Jose Mourinho.
“We love him very much,” said Paratici.
“We want him to do well since we are close to him but he isn’t a Juve player anymore.
“We’re connected to him, but we’ve never thought about it and we’re not going to think about it.”
Pogba joined United from Juventus for a then world record fee of 89 million pound in 2016.
Paratici, 46, also denied a move for Lazio’s Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, saying: “He’s a great player, but we haven’t spoken to him or Lazio.”
Paratici is set to have more responsibility within Juventus after the departure of general manager Giuseppe Marotta.
“Up to now I was happy with my position but things will now probably change a little,” he said.
“My goal will always stay the same, to make Juve as strong as possible. I want to dedicate the award I won today to Mr. Marotta who was like a father to me.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
