Italian football has had a whirlwind past couple of years, the 2006 match fixing scandal that saw Juve relegated to Serie B, obscene remarks about gay footballers during the Euro’s and now the ‘Calcioscommesse scandal’ where THIRTY THREE matches are under the microscope.
Now this, as part of that very scandal, Ex-Bari (Ex? Can’t think why?) player Andrea Masiello has today admitted to scoring this own goal (video below) to ensure that opponents Lecce survived from the drop in May 2011. His admission has saved his buns from jail time, but the finish here is so bad he should be locked up for good.
Further to this, Bari’s (already relegated at this time) final 4 fixtures had significance on the relegation dog fight and the Europa League spots in the Serie A 2010-11 season. These are included in the 33 mentioned above.
Now this goal, if you have a quick look, is nothing short of proposterous. It’s not a John Arne Riise special where the ball has flown in at extreme speed and there’s little more you can do, this is downright outrageous! The detail of the events on the BBC Website today are generous at best, to say that the ball was ‘deflected beyond his own goalkeeper’ is an understatement – if anything the goalkeeper needs a looking at too!
How did he think he’d get away with it?! Bruce Grobbelaar would be proud.
So where does Italian football go from here? Well they’re on a slippery slope with further troubles popping up across the country. Financial Fair Play concerns in Napoli, Stadium issues in Cagliari causing their fixture with Roma to be postponed and Antoni Conte being suspended for 10 months due to involvement in the scandal named above are but a few of the mishaps in the Azzurri world of football.
It makes me wonder about what else goes on in the world of football and worry that a host of stories are one super injunction away from coming out about the Premier League..
Keep you eyes peeled boys…