Some serious action being taken against napoli players and the ref after juventus lost to napoli 3-1 on two hugely disputed penalties…

MILAN, Oct 29 (Reuters) – Italian referee Mauro Bergonzi will not officiate in this week’s matches and looks set to be dropped for a longer period after wrongly awarding two penalties against Juventus on Saturday.

Juve lost 3-1 at Napoli having been level at 1-1 before Maurizio Domizzi converted both controversial spotkicks.

Bergonzi decided Giorgio Chiellini fouled Ezequiel Lavezzi despite replays showing he won the ball and the official pointed to the spot again after former Juve striker Marcelo Zalayeta dived over keeper Gianluigi Buffon. The referee has not been selected for any of Tuesday’s Serie B games or Wednesday’s Serie A matches, the Italian Soccer Federation website said.

Media reports have said referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina could now ban Bergonzi for as much as a month and then keep him in Serie B for longer.

An online petition asking for the referee to be struck off has received thousands of signatures on a well-known Juventus fan website.

Zalayeta has been banned for two games for his dive, the Italian league said in a statement.

Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri said he hoped his club were not being victimised because of their role in last year’s match-fixing scandal, which involved clubs securing favourable referees. Juve were stripped of two titles and demoted in the affair but won promotion straight back to the top flight last term. ‘We have already paid for the past, two championships and a relegation. We want to be treated like everyone else,’ he told Italian media.

 

It is now official – Alessandro Del Piero has extended his Juventus contract until 2010. “This was a decisive choice for my career and my life.”

He had been locked in negotiations with the club over a new deal for several months and at one point it looked as if he would end his decade-long stay in Turin.

However, today’s crunch talks found an agreement and pen has been put to paper on a contract until June 30, 2010.

“Today I made a decisive choice for my career and my life,” explained Del Piero. “Juventus have given me a lot and I want to continue winning here.

“The negotiations that took us to this signature were long and at times complex, but I wish to underline the effort put in from Jean Claude Blanc, Alessio Secco, my brother Stefano and Dario Tosetti, President of the Family Office who has been assisting me for 10 years.”

Brother Stefano is also Del Piero’s agent and he engaged in day-long talks at the club’s Turin headquarters today to find an agreement.

“I am relaxed and confident, because I share the project that I am sure will enable us to give our fans some wonderful moments,” continued the World Cup winner.

Juventus hinted in their Press release that Del Piero has indeed accepted a 20 per cent pay cut, which will go to 25 per cent for 2009-10.

“The agreement underwritten gives an economic recognition to a world class player, but also allows us to further develop the image potential of the captain in sectors and countries that are still unexplored, thanks to the full collaboration of the Juventus commercial structure.”

Crazy, looks like Tiago Mendes might be out of Italy by January after spending 9.2mil to get acquire him 3months ago….talk about a flop..

Tiago Mendes’ days at Juventus could be numbered, according to former Old Lady star Paulo Sousa. The 26-year-old Portuguese midfielder has struggled to settle in Turin since his arrival from Lyon this summer.Despite assurances from boss Claudio Ranieri that he will be given time, Tiago is said to be unsettled with the Bianconeri and already considering his options. “I think Tiago will have real trouble showing his ability at Juve,” Sousa insisted. “Life in Italy is tough for him. “The Coach originally thought that he would play with a triangle in midfield and he was signed as he is very strong going forward. “But now Ranieri is playing a flat four in the middle so he is expected to do more work defensively. “The results are coming, but it makes things tough for Tiago as you need to feel that you know you can grow under a boss.”

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct15g.html

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