Not only they sensed, i also have this feeling that this is
another scene of match-fixing. In my humble opinon, this world cup
is full of match fixing. Comments?
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Italy senses Korean conspiracy
Sean Ingle
Tuesday June 18, 2002
Italy's politicians and football officials have accused Ecuadorian
referee Byron Moreno of "robbing" them of victory - and suggested
that behind-the-scenes-powers worked to hand South Korea a place in
the World Cup quarter-finals.
Italy had a man sent off and a goal disallowed for offside in extra
time - both decisions denounced by Italian television commentators
- before South Korea scored the winning golden goal.
"Frankly, that was complete robbery," Bruno Pizzul, Italy's most
famous commentator told state television RAI immediately after the
game.
Franco Frattini, Italy's minister for public offices, agreed: "The
referee was a disgrace, absolutely scandalous. I've never seen a
game like it. It seemed as if they just sat around a table and
decided to throw us out."
Meanwhile Raffaele Ranucci, the head of the Italian football
delegation to the World Cup, told Italy's RAI state television that
a conspiracy had taken place.
"Korea is a powerful country. It's clear that they would have done
something. I've never in my life seen refereeing that bad," he
said. "The referee was a disgrace. It was like something out of a
comedy film."
Asked if he had said anything to Moreno after the game, Ranucci
replied: "We said something to the referee in the changing rooms.
We are angry and disappointed. It's not fair that a country like
Italy can be humiliated like this."
Italy's fans clearly agreed with the assessment. Hundreds of
supporters, who had gathered in central Rome to watch the game on a
giant television screen, shouted "death to the referee" after the
game.
People watching the game across the country in squares, bars and
offices, hugged and consoled each other in stunned silence.
Many cried openly, tears streaming down their cheeks in the boiling
summer sun as the Italian players trailed off the field in Taejon,
Korea.
"I expected a victory, the pain is enormous. There is no justice in
this world, especially with these referees," said 26-year old
Rosalba Petrone, sitting with friends in Rome's gigantic Piazza del
Popolo.
