Francesco Totti has launched a furious attack on Serie A referees after hinting that Juventus cheated their way to a 3-2 victory over Roma.
Two players and Roma coach Rudi Garcia were red carded while three penalty decisions were given – two for Juve, one for Roma – as the Bianconeri went three points clear of the Giallorossi in Serie A.
For Totti a string of dubious calls by referee Gianluca Rocchi raised age-old beliefs that Juventus benefit from favourable decisions.
The Roma captain told Sky Italia TV: “We came to Turin to play our game, but you saw what happened and that affected the match.
“For years the same old incidents keep happening. I don’t know if we were beaten by referees, but we certainly were not beaten by Juventus.
“This was a match we really cared about, but Juventus ought to have their own league, as by hook or by crook they always win.
“With Juventus when there is any doubt whatsoever, it’s always a penalty.”
Less than a decade ago Juventus were stripped of two league titles for their role in a match-fixing affair. The ‘Calciopoli’ scandal, as it became known, saw Juventus stripped of their 2005 and 2006 titles and demoted to Serie B.
Meanwhile, the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana between Scudetto holders Juve and Coppa Italia winners Napoli will will be played in Qatar on December 22.
Serie A President Maurizio Beretta made the announcement in Paris along with the Qatar Football Association General Secretary Saoud Al Mohannadi.