Juventus have an unexpected ally in the penalty row with Fiorentina, their old enemy Zdenek Zeman. “Both spot-kicks can be given.”
Viola President Rocco Commisso remains furious at the 3-0 defeat in Turin, particularly the second penalty awarded for Federico Ceccherini’s challenge on Rodrigo Bentancur.
Former Lazio and Roma coach Zeman was famously one of the first to openly claim Juve were favoured by referees before the Calciopoli scandal broke in 2006.
Juventus have an unexpected ally in the penalty row with Fiorentina, their old enemy Zdenek Zeman. “Both spot-kicks can be given.”
Viola President Rocco Commisso remains furious at the 3-0 defeat in Turin, particularly the second penalty awarded for Federico Ceccherini’s challenge on Rodrigo Bentancur.
Former Lazio and Roma coach Zeman was famously one of the first to openly claim Juve were favoured by referees before the Calciopoli scandal broke in 2006.
However, in this case, the lugubrious chain-smoking tactician is surprisingly backing the Bianconeri.
“I watched the game and both spot-kicks can be given,” Zeman told Tuttomercatoweb.
“Referees and the VAR both looked at the footage and decided these were penalties. There was much worse done in the past, but these are fouls you can give and they were given.
“The only problem with VAR is that there are still some issues that aren’t clear-cut, not to the referee and not to the VAR. In these cases, the referee decides, as he always has done.
“In the old days, the clubs that complained the most would get an advantage in the next game, but I think that’s much more difficult now. VAR helps everyone make more just decisions.”
Zeman is practically retired now and was also asked about the growth of women’s football in Italy, but showed some rather antiquated views.
“I do hope that women’s football can keep growing, although we’ve got more than enough problems in the men’s game that need fixing.
“Besides, women in Italy have always tended to stay in the kitchen. I don’t know if that’s a bad thing or not. Men have to eat.”