Referee mistake and Signori hat-trick condemn Vicenza

Dag Jenkins
Mar 31, 2024
4 min read

Season 1995-96

Game 27, Serie A

Sunday, March 31, 1996

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Vicenza 3-0

A non-existent penalty paves way for Biancoceleste win

In Serie A Lazio were currently 6th, with Parma on 39 points. The Biancocelesti had won 11 (including Juventus 4-0, Sampdoria 6-3, Atalanta 5-1, Cagliari 4-0), drawn 6 (including derby, Inter and Milan away, all 0-0) and lost 9. Their most recent game was a bad 1-2 defeat at Cremonese. They were more inconsistent this season but still fighting for a place in the following year's UEFA Cup.

So far, the Vicenza were in 8th place, on 38 points. A decent performance for a newly promoted side. The Vicentini had won 10 (including Lazio 1-0 and Juventus 2-1 at home), drawn 8 (including Roma 1-1 away, Milan and Inter both 1-1 at home) and lost 8. Their most recent game was a 3-0 home win against Napoli.

A game this afternoon between two teams only separated by one point. The difference was Lazio were not doing as well as expected and came from a bad defeat while Vicenza were doing better than expected and came from a good win. Today however was a new day and fixture.

The match: Sunday, March 31, 1996, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, photo by Dag Jenkins

About 40,000 turned up on a sunny end of March afternoon.

Lazio were without forward Gigi Casiraghi while Vicenza were missing future Lazio defender Giovanni Lopez.

Lazio had huge difficulties in the first half in constructing anything remotely threatening to the well organised visiting team. Vicenza pressed efficiently, consistently closed Lazio down and had Marcelo Otero up front as the lone striker.

In the 27th minute the Biancocelesti were forced to replace an injured Cristiano Bergodi with a young Alessandro Nesta. Ten minutes later Zdenek Zeman also took off Roberto Rambaudi but this time by choice and introduced another youngster Alessandro Iannuzzi.

Just as it seemed the first half would end without incident an extremely controversial episode occurred. The referee Farina, who had denied Lazio two blatant penalties in the away match in Vicenza, awarded Lazio a highly doubtful one. In the 45th minute Paolo Negro on the right side of the area kicked the ball towards Gustavo Méndez and it ricocheted up onto the Uruguayan's arm. It was clearly fortuitous and unintentional but the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Vicenza were understandably furious and manager Francesco Guidolin got himself sent off for dissent. The decision however was made and Beppe Signori made no mistake, 1-0 at the break.

Five minutes into the second half the Biancorossi decided to make their first change and brought on forward Roberto Murgita in place of midfielder Gabriele Ambrosetti. The midfield made up of Ambrosetti-Di Carlo-Amerini-Viviani had played very well but more weight was needed in attack.

The game which had already swayed in Lazio's favour with the unexpected gift from the referee, now definitely turned.

In the 54th minute the home side doubled their lead. The Vicenza defence was doddery and hesitated to clear a ball from the area so Signori turned and sent a low right-footed shot to Luca Mondini's right, 2-0.

Vicenza's heads dropped and five minutes later the game was definitely over. Lazio were awarded another penalty, this time a legitimate one, when Luigi Sartor touched Aron Winter while at full throttle towards goal. Signori again put an impeccable spot kick past Mondini, 3-0.

The game had nothing more to say. Both sides made one more substitution each; in the 65th minute Massimo Lombardini for Daniele Rossi and in the 84th Guerino Gottardi for Diego Fuser.

A flattering score line for Lazio. The game had two stories, one before the controversial penalty and another after. Prior to the generous offering by the referee, Lazio had struggled and Vicenza had defended well. After the breakthrough Vicenza had changed tactical setup and been psychologically demoralised.

Despite the controversy they were three good points for Lazio. The Biancocelesti were still 6th, with Roma on 42 points, but now only one behind Parma (defeated 0-1 by Juventus away) and two Inter (defeated by Fiorentina 1-2 at home).

One had to feel for Vicenza. They had obviously been damaged by the referee's mistake and never recovered. The Biancorossi were still 8th, but now with Sampdoria (Udinese 4-2 away) on 38 points.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Favalli, Di Matteo, Bergodi (27' Nesta), Chamot, Rambaudi (37' Iannuzzi), Fuser (84' Gottardi), Boksic, Winter, Signori