The verdict warning Lazio v Torino must be played is still causing controversy, as the Aquile call it ‘fraud’ and the Court of Appeal accuse Toro of being ‘sneaky.’
Torino had an outbreak of COVID-19 that spread rapidly through the squad, infecting at least 10 people between players and staff.
The verdict warning Lazio v Torino must be played is still causing controversy, as the Aquile call it ‘fraud’ and the Court of Appeal accuse Toro of being ‘sneaky.’
Torino had an outbreak of COVID-19 that spread rapidly through the squad, infecting at least 10 people between players and staff.
Because it included the so-called English variant of COVID, the local health authority (ASL) ordered Torino to go into complete lockdown for five days, not even allowed to train, let alone travel for a match in Rome.
That order ran until midnight on the day of the game, making it effectively impossible for Torino to play.
Nonetheless, today’s sentence from the Court of Appeal makes very clear the only reason it upheld the ruling that the game must go ahead and be rescheduled is because Napoli set a precedent with their case on the Juventus fixture.
The statement from the Court of Appeal notes “there is no doubt Torino profited from the ASL’s order, which was only made on request from the Granata.
“The club behaved with a sort of ‘sneakiness’ that is not, in any way, in line with the principles of fairness and probity that must be at the centre of any game.”
Lazio have therefore warned they will are preparing another appeal to the CONI, with their lawyer Gian Michele Gentile going so far as to say “this clearly ascertains there was a form of fraud operated against Lazio, but the sporting justice system cannot act because of the ASL.”
Lazio and the Lega Serie A wanted to stick by the COVID protocol, which would’ve given them an automatic 3-0 victory.
However, Torino had an even stronger case for not playing than Napoli, who won their appeal over the case with Juventus back in October.
The Lega Serie A and the Court of Appeal had rejected Napoli’s case and even given them a one-point penalty for not attending the fixture.
That was overturned by the CONI, who set the precedent.