June 14, 1981: Lazio Vicenza 1-1
- Simon Basten
- Jun 14
- 15 min read
Missed penalty condemns Lazio to another year of Serie B
Chiodi misses a decisive penalty with seconds to go and Lazio probably lose the race to get back into Serie A
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season had seen Lazio relegated due to the Totonero scandal.
Rumours that there was something wrong in Serie A had begun to circulate earlier in the year. At Cagliari Maurizio Montesi broke his leg and from the hospital spoke to the few journalists who went to see how he was. He was alone, none of the Lazio players had had the decency to drop by. He started talking of match fixing, agreements between clubs over results, and illegal betting.
In Italy one could not legally bet on the result of a single game or on the scores of a series of games. There was just the Totocalcio where one had to guess the results of 13 games. There was however an illegal betting system called Totonero run by illegal bookmakers similar to how legal bets were organised in the UK.
Match fixing had always been a problem in Italy and taken place since the early 1950s. Clubs and/or players would agree to share points during the season in a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” system. But then the players started to bet on these games. It was easy money, they knew what the result would be so why not have a little wager.
Alvaro Trinca was the owner of a restaurant in the centre of Rome where Lazio and Roma players would often go and eat before games. Massimo Cruciani was a fruit seller and was very friendly with a number of players. Both would hear the players talk of match fixing and therefore started to bet and win large sums of money. They teamed up and devised a plan which was to offer money to the players to fix games as well as bet money for them.
Their plan failed miserably and they were hugely indebted with people with whom you do not want to be indebted with. Apparently, they first asked the clubs for money but not all wanted to pay, then they presented their case to the Italian Football Federation but that was not going to solve the debts, so they then tried by resting their case with the law. They were later both arrested and started talking to the magistrates.
On March 23 1980, the Italian police arrested a number of players of Lazio, Milan, Bologna, Avellino, Genoa and Perugia. The scandal had exploded and Lazio were right in the middle of it. Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia, Massimo Cacciatori and Pino Wilson were among the players arrested.
Once the season finished there was the Sport Justice court case regarding the match fixing. The Lazio players were allegedly involved in the match fixing of Milan Lazio that ended 2-1 for the hosts and Lazio Avellino which finished 1-1.
The first sentencing between May and June gave Cacciatori and Wilson a life ban, Giordano and Manfredonia an 18-month suspension, Maurizio Montesi four months and a 10 million lire fine to Lazio. At the time fans thought that all in all this was acceptable.
Others got even worse sentences. Milan were relegated (there was a direct involvement of the club President), Avellino, Bologna and Perugia given a 5-point docking. Among the various players, Enrico Albertosi got a life ban and Paolo Rossi 3 years.
The Lazio fans looked to the appeal case with optimism. They were wrong. Lazio were relegated to Serie B for the game against Avellino, Giordano and Manfredonia got a three-and-a-half-year suspension, Cacciatori four years and Wilson three years. Paolo Rossi’s suspension was reduced to two years, Albertosi's to four.
Why were Lazio relegated? There was no legal reason since none of the club managers were involved. The only reason was the fact that the initial sentences were considered too lenient and the Sports Justice system wanted to set an example. Hence, Lazio, always everybody’s favourite scapegoat, were relegated because it had a large number of players involved. But others were involved far deeper and got off lightly or with no penalisation at all. Lazio were a sacrificial lamb to keep the media happy.
Were the players guilty? Who knows. Wilson has hardly ever spoken about it. In his official biography though, he admitted having reached an agreement with some Milan players regarding Milan-Lazio. The plan was to let them win in Milan and Lazio in Rome. The Biancocelesti did not have much of a chance in Milan and the points at the end of the season could have been useful in case of a battle to stay in Serie A. He had nothing to do with betting, as also shown in the case files and his name appeared only for the Milan match. But Montesi accused him of being the ring leader, probably because a name had to be given, so to save himself he chose the player that had the least to lose.
These types of agreements had always happened in Italian football, this was no different from other similar agreements like in the last matches of the season when one team needed a point to stay in Serie A and the other maybe a point for a UEFA Cup qualification. The games would practically be non- starters. This is a violation of every Sports Code, and if the agreement is reached between clubs, if found guilty, these should be relegated or given point deductions. And if it is among players, these, if found guilty, should be suspended. If the players take money all that has to be done is to verify and check.
Manfredonia stated in an interview that he paid a rather large price compared to what he actually did. So maybe when Wilson announced that they were going to lose the Milan game, he complied. He did not play the match against Avellino, so he can’t have been guilty for that.
Giordano proclaims his innocence to this day. In his official biography he claims that Trinca and Cruciani tried to blackmail President Umberto Lenzini who refused to pay. When the magistrates asked him if he had got some extra cash Giordano denied it, saying “check my bank statements”. This is probably what they did and as a consequence none of the players were found guilty in the legal court case.
Where does the truth lie? A few facts are almost certain. Milan- Lazio was fixed by the players. The club had nothing to do with it. The rest is just speculation. Lazio, some Lazio players and Lazio fans paid a very high price for the Italian Football Federation's need to find guilty parties, whether they were actually guilty or not. And unfortunately, it would not be the only time. Claudio Vinazzani’s friendship with a Neapolitan illegal bookie, who was fixing games, translated into a 9-point deduction for the 1986-87 season, despite Lazio not being involved. President Claudio Lotito’s requests for decent referees would cost Lazio a 30-point deduction in the 2005-06 season and 3 points for the following one in the Calciopoli farce. Stefano Mauri’s friendship with a player who fixed games cost him a six-month suspension and jail time, even if he was innocent.
Lazio had invested a lot for the 1980-81 season and even signed Rene Van de Kerkhof, the Dutch star, but he was not eligible to play in Serie B so the deal did not go through.
Other players signed were Alberto Bigon and Stefano Chiodi from Milan (with Mauro Tassotti going the other way), goalkeepers Maurizio Moscatelli (Pistoiese), Aldo Nardin (Lecce) and Dario Marigo (Chieti), defenders Giorgio Mastropasqua and Arcadio Spinozzi (both from Bologna), midfielders Dario Sanguin (Vicenza) and Giuseppe Greco (Torino). Saying goodbye to Lazio, apart from Tassotti, were hero Vincenzo D’Amico (Torino), Antonio Lopez (Palermo) and Vincenzo Zucchini (Vicenza). Andrea Agostinelli and Roberto Badiani were sent on loan to Pistoiese, Stefano Ferretti to Empoli.
The manager was rising star Ilario Castagner who had led Perugia to a historic second place just a couple of seasons earlier.
After 15 games Lazio were top of the table with a one-point lead over Milan and four over third place (the first three were promoted). A long way to go yet but there was optimism. The Biancocelesti had won 7 and drawn 8 and had not lost yet. Chiodi had started playing in the beginning of November and had scored three goals.
Then came Lazio vs Milan, first game of 1981. The Rossoneri easily won 2-0. The shock probably instilled a doubt in the player’s mind and the Biancocelesti started to lose ground.
Lazio managed to stay second until mid-April, then Cesena overtook them. In mid-May with five games to the end of the season Lazio were third, two points clear of Genoa. Then, enter referee Alberto Michelotti. In the home game against Sampdoria, there was a corner for Lazio. Mastropasqua crossed, Gianluca De Ponti tried to head the ball but blatantly handballed it. A clear penalty right under the eyes of the linesman. But Michelotti had no intention of listening to him and the linesman no intention of changing the ref’s mind. Lazio lost that game and Genoa won. Milan first on 46 points, Cesena 42, Lazio and Genoa 41. In the next game Cesena won, Lazio and Genoa drew. With three games to the end came the mother of all games at the Olimpico: Lazio-Cesena. The Biancocelesti needed to win and they did, so with two games to go all three teams were tied on 44 points. Final home game Lazio-Vicenza.
The match: Sunday, June 14, 1981, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
This was the decider. The game of the season. There had been other crucial games in the previous weeks but this was going to be decisive. Considering that Vicenza were in dire straits fighting for survival, many fans thought that there would be no problem.
But there were problems. Many.
The Biancocelesti entered the pitch empty, confused. Ilario Castagner was also to blame for having put rocky defender Dario Pighin on fast Claudio Vagheggi. The only two players who showed some signs of light in the deep mist surrounding the Laziali were Alberto Bigon and Fernando Viola.
But all of this could have been made easier if the referee had given a blatant penalty for a foul on Bigon in the 16th minute, when he was held back unfairly by Plinio Serena. Lazio were in total confusion and Vicenza twice went very close to scoring. First, in the 29th minute, Vagheggi found himself in front of Dario Marigo who made a great save with his foot. Five minutes later, Paolo Rosi with a great shot from outside the box hit the woodwork. The Biancocelesti protested in the 40th minute when Dino Pagliari fouled Giorgio Mastropasqua just inside the box. The referee did give Lazio the foul but instead of a spot kick he moved the ball back out of the penalty area for a free kick.
In the second half things looked promising and in the first five minutes the Biancocelesti had chances with Paolo Pochesci, Bigon, Carlo Perrone and Mastropasqua. But in the 55th minute, Rosi tried his luck again from outside the box, Marigo punched the ball away, and Vagheggi dribbled half of the Lazio defence and scored.
The Biancocelesti reacted confusedly and in the 67th minute Marigo was forced to stop Vincenzo Zucchini who in front of the keeper tried one dribbling too many. In the 69th minute Lazio equalised. Free kick from the left, Viola crossed and Pochesci headed the ball in.
The Biancocelesti went into panic mode and Vicenza had numerous chances to make it two on the counter attack. Enzo Mocellin in the 78th minute hit the crossbar with a shot from outside the box.
Three minutes from time, Mastropasqua was fouled in the box. Penalty. Stefano Chiodi stepped up to take it. He had never before missed a penalty in his career. He did this time.
Genoa and Cesena won. The Serie A dream was virtually over.
Who played for Lazio
Marigo, Pighin, Simoni (63’ Chiodi), Perrone, Pochesci, Citterio, Viola, Bigon, Garlaschelli, Mastropasqua, Greco (52’ Marronaro)
Manager: Castagner
Who played for Vicenza
Di Fusco, Bombardi, Bottaro, Sandreani, P. Serena, Erba, Vagheggi, Zucchini, Pagliari (75' C.Perrone), Rosi (70' Briaschi), Mocellin
Substitutes: Mattiazzo, Dal Prà, Zanini
Manager: Viciani
Referee: Lops
Goals: 55’ Vagheggi, 69’ Pochesci
What happened next
In the final game Lazio drew at Taranto and the Serie A dream was definitely over.
The players with most appearances this season were Citterio and Viola with 43 games and the top scorer was Bigon with 10 goals.
What happened in Serie B 1980-81
The previous season had seen Como, Pistoiese and Brescia promoted to Serie A and Catanzaro, Udinese and Pescara relegated but the Totonero scandal and the decision of the Sports Court changed things. Going down from Serie A were Pescara plus Milan, who had the president involved in match fixing, and Lazio whose only fault was to have four players allegedly involved in the scandal. Furthermore, Taranto and Palermo were docked five points for this season hence started with -5.
This changed everything for the 1980-81 Serie B. Now there were two greats in Serie B who were obviously hot favourites to go straight back up. Other possible candidates were the Genoese clubs, Verona and Cesena.
September
In the first game in Serie B, Lazio were immediately stopped at home with a draw against Palermo and after the first three games Spal and Milan were leaders. A long way to go though.
Spal 5, Milan 5, Lazio 4, Foggia 4, Pescara 4, Atalanta 4, Sampdoria 4, Vicenza 3, Pisa 3, Genoa 3, Rimini 3, Cesena 2, Monza 2, Verona 2, Bari 2, Varese 2, Catania 2, Lecce 1, Palermo* -2, Taranto* -3
* 5 point docking
October
Lazio began to come to terms with the new reality and went top towards the end of October in the company of Milan. Spal and Sampdoria were only a point behind. Taranto and Palermo overcame their initial deficit.
Lazio 11, Milan 11, Spal 10, Sampdoria 10, Genoa 8, Atalanta 8, Pescara 8, Pisa 8, Bari 7, Foggia 6, Cesena 6, Varese 6, Rimini 6, Verona 5, Taranto* 4, Vicenza 4, Lecce 4, Monza 4, Catania 3, Palermo* 1
* 5 point docking
November
The two rogue clubs went off alone and now led the pack with a four-point lead. They had yet to lose a game.
Lazio 18, Milan 18, Genoa 14, Foggia 14, Sampdoria 14, Cesena 13, Pisa 13, Spal 12, Pescara 12, Rimini 11, Bari 11, Atalanta 11, Lecce 11, Catania 11, Verona 10, Varese 10, Taranto* 8, Vicenza 7, Palermo* 6, Monza 6
* 5 point docking
December
In the first game of the month Milan lost 3-0 at Taranto but Lazio could only muster a 2-2 draw at Monza so now they were solitary leaders but just a point ahead, which became two a week after, when the Biancocelesti beat Pisa and the Rossoneri drew at home with Cesena. Seven days later however Lazio were stopped by Sampdoria and Milan won under the leaning tower, so on the eve of the big match between the top two, the Biancocelesti had a one-point lead.
Lazio 22, Milan 21, Spal 17, Cesena 17, Sampdoria 16, Foggia 16, Genoa 16, Pisa 15, Pescara 14, Atalanta 14, Catania 14, Rimini 13, Verona 13, Bari 13, Lecce 13, Taranto* 12, Palermo* 11, Varese 11, Vicenza 10, Monza 10
* 5 point docking
January
Milan beat Lazio 2-0 at the Olimpico and the Biancocelesti took that defeat badly, losing the next game and then drawing two. The Rossoneri now had a four-point lead. Below there were lots of teams involved in the relegation fight, more than half of Serie B!!!
Milan 28, Lazio 24, Cesena 23, Sampdoria** 22, Genoa 21, Spal 20, Pisa 20, Lecce 20, Foggia 19, Pescara 19, Catania 18, Verona 17, Bari 17, Atalanta 16, Taranto* 15, Palermo* 15, Rimini 15**, Varese 14, Monza 13, Vicenza 12
* 5 point docking
** one game in hand
February
Lazio regained some confidence and by the end of the month Milan’s lead was reduced to three points. Cesena and Sampdoria were battling for third place with the others behind.
Milan 32, Lazio 29, Cesena 27, Sampdoria 26, Spal 23, Genoa 23, Pisa 23, Foggia 22, Pescara 22, Bari 21, Lecce 21, Catania 21, Verona 20, Rimini 20, Atalanta 19, Palermo* 17, Varese 17, Taranto* 16, Monza 16, Vicenza 15
* 5 point docking
March
In the first four games of the month Lazio drew 3 and lost one. They had been caught up by Cesena while Milan now had a five-point lead. But in the last game of the month, Milan fell at Palermo and Lazio won at Rimini, narrowing the gap. Genoa and Spal joined the promotion race as they were only four points behind the Biancocelesti. In the fight to avoid Serie C, the -5 start was taking its toll on Taranto and Palermo who had fallen back a bit.
Milan 37, Lazio 34, Cesena 33, Sampdoria 32, Genoa 30, Spal 30, Pisa 27, Pescara 27, Foggia 26, Verona 25, Bari 25, Catania 25, Rimini 24, Atalanta 24, Lecce 24, Varese 23, Vicenza 22, Taranto* 21, Palermo* 21, Monza 20
* 5 point docking
April
Cesena overtook Lazio in April with the Biancocelesti losing at Bari and then drawing with Lecce and Genoa. There were seven games left and Milan with a six-point lead over fourth place had a foot and a half in Serie A. Five teams for the other two places. Below Monza were in trouble but there was still half of Serie B who could potentially be relegated.
Milan 43, Cesena 40, Lazio 38, Genoa 37, Sampdoria 36, Pescara 33, Pisa 32, Spal 31, Catania 30, Verona 29, Rimini 29, Foggia 29, Bari 29, Lecce 27, Vicenza 26, Taranto* 25, Palermo* 25, Atalanta 25, Varese 25, Monza 21
* 5 point docking
May
While Milan and Cesena continued in first and second place, Lazio and Genoa had managed to obtain a slight advantage. Then came Lazio Sampdoria where an incredible penalty was not given to the Biancocelesti. On a corner Gianluca De Ponti, Samp forward, dived towards the ball and clearly handballed it. But Lazio were not given the penalty and ended up losing the game. The week later the Biancocelesti drew away with Milan and were caught up by Genoa.
Milan 47, Cesena 44, Lazio 42, Genoa 42, Sampdoria 40, Pisa 37, Pescara 36, Catania 35, Rimini 34, Foggia 34, Spal 33, Verona 32, Bari 32, Lecce 32, Palermo* 30, Varese 30, Vicenza 30, Atalanta 29, Taranto* 28, Monza 23
* 5 point docking
June
Final three games. In the first of the month Lazio beat Cesena at home and Genoa also won hence there were three teams on 44 points in second place with due games left. Milan needed just one point to go back to Serie A and in the penultimate match they beat Monza.
Genoa won away at Atalanta and Cesena did the same at Foggia. Lazio instead struggled at home against Vicenza. They fell behind, managed to equalise and had a penalty in the last second which they missed. With one match to the end Genoa and Cesena were on 46 points, Lazio on 45. In the last match they both won, the Biancocelesti drew at Taranto and were forced to another year of Serie B.
With one game to go, Monza and Taranto were relegated, Atalanta were on 30 points, Vicenza 31 and Varese 32. Varese won their last game against Pisa 4-0 so it was Vicenza and Taranto to go down to Serie C.
Top scorer was Roberto Antonelli (Milan) with 15 goals.
Final Table: Milan 50, Genoa 48, Cesena 48, Lazio 46, Sampdoria 43, Pescara 41, Pisa 39, Bari 37, Rimini 36, Foggia 36, Lecce 36, Spal 35, Catania 35, Palermo* 34, Varese 34, Verona 34, Vicenza 33, Taranto* 30, Atalanta 30, Monza 25
* 5 point docking
What happened in Serie A
This was the first year with foreign players after 15 years. Juventus chose Liam Brady, Roma signed Paulo Roberto Falcao, Ruud Krol went to Napoli, Ricardo Bertoni to Fiorentina and Herbert Prohaska to Inter.
At the end of the first half of the season Roma were first on 20 points followed by Inter on 19, Juventus and Napoli on 18. Five games to the end, the Giallorossi, Bianconeri and Neapolitans were tied on 35 points with Inter fourth on 29. Juve then went top after winning at Udine with Roma drawing at Ascoli and Napoli losing at home with Perugia. In the third from last game there was Juventus vs Roma. It was an ugly game and the Bianconeri were down to ten men when, in the 74th minute, Bruno Conti crossed into the area where Roberto Pruzzo headed on to Maurizio Turone whose diving header beat Dino Zoff. The goal would in all likelihood mean the Scudetto was on its way to Rome but unfortunately the linesman's flag was up. No goal, the match ended up goalless. The Romanisti however still lose sleep over it 43 years later. The Bianconeri won the next two and secured the scudetto.
Inter reached the semi-final of the European Cup. They were eliminated by Real Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. Roma were eliminated in the first round of the Cup Winners Cup by Carl Zeiss Jena despite having won the first leg 3-0. They then lost 4-0 in East Germany. In the UEFA Cup, Juventus were eliminated in the second round by Widzew Lodz on penalties and Torino in the third round, again on penalties, by Grasshopper.
The Coppa Italia final was between Torino and Roma. After the first leg in Rome ended 1-1, the second toe finished 1-1 (with a ridiculous penalty awarded to the Giallorossi). Roma eventually won on penalties.
Juventus would play in the European Cup, Roma in the Cup Winners Cup, Napoli and Inter in the UEFA Cup. Top scorer was Roberto Pruzzo (Roma) with 18 goals.
Final table: Juventus 44, Roma 42, Napoli 38, Inter 36, Fiorentina 32, Cagliari 30, Bologna* 29, Catanzaro 29, Torino 26, Avellino* 25, Ascoli 25, Udinese 25, Como 25, Brescia 25, Perugia* 18, Pistoiese 16
* 5 point docking
Sources
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