Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has come out in defence of his former club, urging people not to compare the widespread resignation of the board to the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, which resulted in the Bianconeri being demoted from Serie A.
Sixteen years ago, prosecutors intercepted phone calls involving general manager Luciano Moggi, which uncovered attempts to influence the selection of referees for Italian fixtures to favour the Old Lady, and stripped of two Scudetti won in 2004/05 and 2005/06.
Defensive Del Piero
The former Italy international stayed with Juventus to help the club back from Serie B and eventually departed with another Serie A title and a club record 705 appearances, yet insisted that the two events are very different.
“I am too shocked to comment in an articulated way [on the resignations] and I should know the situation better,” Del Piero told La Stampa. “Regardless is a sad thing, because they are all friends, from [president Andrea] Agnelli to [vice-president Pavel] Nedved.”
“However, it is not like in 2006, it doesn’t concern the team, but the people. Because it’s an accusation against the people, the president and the members of the board.”
Will this derail Juventus’ Scudetto challenge
Having failed to win the Serie A title for the last two years and embarking on a six-game winning run domestically ahead of the mid-season break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, coach Massimiliano Allegri will hope that this off-field disruption has limited impact on his team.
That several of the Juventus first-team are on international duty for the next few weeks will aid his plans, as will recommencing with back-to-back fixtures against Cremonese and Udinese. Navigating those two games successfully would then set up a potentially Scudetto-defining visit to leaders Napoli, with eyes very much on what they are doing on the pitch.
