Italian Football Federation (FIGC) Chief Franco Carraro quit Monday over a mounting sporting corruption scandal that is rocking the soccer world here. The scandal exploded last week when wiretaps were published of Juventus General Manager Luciano Moggi discussing referee selection with the official who used to appoint them.
In them, Moggi asks referee appointer Pier Luigi Pairetto to name "good" refs for three pre-season friendlies and subsequently chats with Pairetto about the refs assigned to two Champions League matches.
The wiretaps were ordered by Turin prosecutors as part of a doping probe before and after the start of the 2004-5 season, which Juve won. The prosecutors sent the wiretaps to Italian Football Federation FIGC after determining that, while no criminal
charges could be brought, there could be a case to answer at sporting tribunals.
FIGC immediately opened an investigation and Carraro promised last week that sporting justice would be "swift" and "rigorous".
But at the weekend, many people involved in the game suggested that Italian soccer was in need of a clean-out. Carraro, who resisted calls for his head when similar scandals broke in the past, did not turn a deaf ear this time. "This story of the wiretaps is very delicate, and I say that as an ex Juventino," said Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli.
"I think those who have done wrong should pay. There will be other responsible parties apart from those who are emerging.
"We should fire everyone. Not just those involved in the telephone conversations, but the directors of the federation too".
"The system is bent and no one in the federation does anything about it," said Palermo chairman Maurizio Zamparini Zamparini Monday.
"Moggi was just the best player in a distorted football system. He became the guru of a shameful system".
The scandal is particularly damaging because it seems to confirm Italian fans' age-old suspicions that the refs favour Juve.
"We can only weep about what has happened. It is necessary to be ashamed, that's all" Inter coach Roberto Mancini said on television.
"Everyone used to talk about this in the bars, but before there was no proof. Now there is and I don't know what there is to wait for, see or understand. "This is a very serious thing. It is no use training, making sacrifices and preparing for the games all week, if things have already been decided already.
"I think that without all this Inter would have won at least two more scudettos than it has".
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti also expressed alarm: "Things should be clarified. This is a very bad blow to people's passion and enthusiasm, but it could also be an opportunity to start again with a different spirit". Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni, a Juve fan, said soccer was in danger of becoming like professional wrestling. "The impression is that nothing is real any more," said Veltroni.
Last week European football's governing body UEFA reprimanded Pairetto, who was part of its Refereeing Commission, because the wiretaps showed he gave Juventus advanced notice of which referees they would get for European games.
The scandal seems destined to escalate as "sporting fraud" probes have also been launched by Naples and Rome prosecutors.
Naples prosecutors, whose probe started with investigations into possible cases of match-fixing for betting scams, are examining wiretaps taken throughout last season of conversations between club officials and several referees. Among those whose conversations were monitored is Massimo De Santis, the ref Italy is sending to the World Cup this summer.
Rome prosecutors are investigating alleged abuse of market position by the company that handles most of Italian player transfers. It is owned by Moggi's son Alessandro. FIGC is slated to interview the referees concerned as part of its investigation on Tuesday.
John Elkann, the Vice President of Fiat - Juventus' biggest shareholder - stressed his support of the players and coach Fabio Capello on Sunday. But he also said he was "not indifferent" to the wiretap scandal and refused to comment when asked if he was backing the Juventus management 'triad' that Moggi leads.
This has sparked speculation that Fiat may dump Moggi and CEO Antonio Giraudo, but retain the last third of the 'triad', Vice President Roberto Bettega.
