Does Juventus really bribe referees?
142237
I wouldn't say it's just Juve.  FIFA doesn't come across as the sort of "clean skinned" organisation it says it is.  I'm sure Sepp Blatter and co. have a few skeletons in their closets.
659525
Of course.\n\nIt was only a scuffle. They were both competitive.\n\nThe ref was a fool
1001723
Yeah, those who aways complain about the "phony acting" and the faking obviously don't understand about the sport or the human body. These athletes run like crazy for all that time and the muscles end up strung like piano wire. One light hit and its cramp city, real severe cramps. That is why it looks so bad and why it resolves pretty quickly. That is why the really good referees (about 60-70% in the world about 25% at a FIFA World Cup, for some reason..) will usually ignore them and get on with the game.\n\nOf course many if not most, of the players make it seem worse than it is and of course that would be "cheating," but as we see from all the pro players from Am. football, baseball, hockey, basketball who take steroids, use illegal equipment, all the players who illegally gamble, (or their wives) all the referees in all sports who take bribes, "cheating" doesn't seem to be something the sporting world seems to take very seriously.\n\n(Nor will they ever, until the fans (you and me) stop paying billions to go and watch the cheaters play....)
1035263
Yes, actually already there are  cards for refrees, i can send you two matches that the refree was given yellow card and also red card , the issue is that he was not meant to be given by any outsider since his the judge, but sometime if the refree is really concern about his deed ,he hand over the card to any of the players of his choice mostly the captain of one of the team that he likely offend, and he will be given a card , if his given a yellow the game can continue with him, but if his red card he need to just leave the game and one of the last man will continue as a refree, attached is the game like that or i Will send you the particular script of the games with the referee out, just send me your e-mail address,
339260
What sport and level are you talking about?  Often referees are given games by an assignor who will verify competence.
1186144
No way. Refs are accused of this simply because when they make a mistake it is more visible than when a player makes it (except the goalie maybe!)\n\nRefs cannot do their job anymore because players cheat, they dive, they are coached to dive, they moan constantly, they are paid too much and they are the ones that are ruining this great game. \n\nRight, thats off my chest now.
1118773
in response to responder #1, It was a questionable call, the Italians had twice to that point had slides where the feet were stacked and they made deliberate contact to stop the advance of the ball. One was from the side, it was just a whistle, the second, from behind was a yellow. I didnt like how the sportscasters said that there was no way it was a red, but i dont completely agree with it. Some of the officials have been great, most have been a little to antsy to give out cards. It happens.
1067900
I think they do in a bottom line situation. Many of the favoured teams have started slowly or been a little disappointing. Who really knows how that match would have gone or played out if they had a better referee. He truly was terribly inconsistent today and effected the game greatly. I think he had both teams in fear by half time and that must have had an effect in how they played their game. I think the coach needs to find better combinations on the field. Totti, Del Piero and others have played together in previous world cups but are hardly ever on the field together to lead with experience. Del Piero was in place to score on many occasions, however the ball didn't get to him all that often.
836256
Believe me, too many to type up!\n\nBut, I've never heard of Buffon and Trezeguet and Cameronesi before the World Cup and since then Juventus has been one of my favorite clubs!\n\nBTW: Did "Juventina" get her account suspended  yet 'cause i keep reporting her?
1156575
again, its not Italy here..its the Referees! They have done a poor job in this world cup! horrible, horrible job! almost every single game there has been talked all over the world about questionable calls that cost a team a chance to advance to the next level! For some reason every game Italy has been involved there have been questionable calls! its not only I who believes this, so does the New York Times, USA today, ESPN, FOX sports, even CNN did a piece on the ref's! bloggers all over the world and obviously people in yahoo answers. If Italy would have gotten eliminated due to that calls in the aussie game, you would be furious!!! you would be here talkin about that damm referee who mess up your chances to move on! \nThe Reality of things is the officialin has been poor, and its sad. We wait 4 years for this! 4!!!! its not fair to teams to get eliminated due to bad calls, if Italy were eliminated there would be tons of italian bloggers enraged by the outcome. don't you like to watch games decided by quality of playin, I'm sorry but I love soccer, I respect the game tremendously, and I hate when a game is decided by a dumb referee who can't do its job..even when his assistant is tellin him he's wrong. sorry, I would never think Italy won that game. sorry, not happening.\n\nPlus the Italian coach is under investiagation for fraud, so the person below me might be onto something..so much controversy around the Italian team.\nwhat if he's bettin on the italian team to win...ref's get money...anything  is possbile at this point.
1120654
Nothing is what it seams. I think that there is corruption everywhere. There was trouble over tickets, someone from FIFA was sacked/asked to leave because they was selling tickets 2 or 3 times face value.\n\nBut as for match fixing, i think is almost impossible. \n\nBut hey who's knows in this freaking world.
988690
I think a lot will depend on how harsh the punishment for Juventus will be.\nThe ruling for the other teams will have to be proportionate to Juventus' punishment:\nIf Juve is sent to serie B, then it would be unfeasible for the other teams to be awarded the same punishment and they will probably be subtracted points either in the last championship or the next.\nShould Juventus be sentenced to serie C1 or C2, then the others (maybe not all) could be sent to serie B.\nJuve will also be stripped of the past two championship wins, which will either be erased or awarded to Inter.\nThis is just a guess...good luck Juventina.
1122890
I think that is a very strong statement. Italy got robbed by the referees in the last world cup and this time it went their way.  The questions should be why does FIFA decide the winners before the matches are played to favor them in terms of ratings.
652360
I support Juve for 12 years. But if they are found guillty they can be demoted & worse they can be stripped of the last 2 scudettos. The UEFA is keeping a close eye on this, so italian fa wont take a chance. But Bianconeri will rise up. Milan went down & bankrupt in 80. Still later they won 3 european titles. Juve can do that too.
1163046
Soccer_mind, 4 years ago Korea won Italy rightfuly, there was some minor mistakes from the ref., but that did not affect the match. However, the match between Korea vs Spain, the ref. helped Korea to win. For another thing, FIFA is not doing anything about ref., before Korea 2002 were irregularities with ref. \n4 years after 4 years we are experiencing the same unfair ref. action. Dont you thing FIFA should change thing about referees?\nand Im not agree with you about WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND. Dude give me a break.\n\n\n\n\nSoccer_mind, if you know about a little about soccer history, you will see there were astronomical mistakes made by ref way before WC 2002. Plz, dont be ignorant,and study before making any judgement.
961454
No you try to open your eyes and see what everybody else See's.\nChelsea are a team of thugs. next time a decision goes against Chelsea watch how many player surround the ref. And what about the referee meeting the Chelsea manager to try to help him, " LIKE he does will all the other managers" ...."NOT"
1051611
Some football factions have an interest in allowing the results of matches to be influenced.\n\nWho's to say some games aren't bought?\n\nWe certainly know that Italian teams in the Sere A can't be trusted 100%.\n\nUntil Fifa actually THINK about what these "footballers" and their antics (diving, checking, looking for free kicks) are doing for the greater good of the game, we'll all just have to accept that teams who exploit the referee the best will ALWAYS win...\n\nAustralia went out there and played fairly, like MEN, and were robbed by a soft decision. If Italy had of earned that match all would be well, but seeing as they could only "win" by fowl means they have lost my respect permanently.