Lazio continue their quest for Serie A
A good win against Bari with goals from Viola, Chiodi and Mastropasqua
Also on this day: November 16, 1958, Lazio Torino 2-0. Lazio take advantage of Torino's negative approach to beat former greats. Non Lazio Player of the day: Enzo Bearzot
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 result 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 Lazio were fined 10 million lire. At the time fans thought that all in all this was acceptable.
Others had even worse sentences. Milan were relegated (there was a direct involvement of the club President), Avellino, Bologna and Perugia given a 5-point penalty. Among the various players, Enrico Albertosi got a life ban and Paolo Rossi 3 years.
The Lazio fans looked at 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 4 years and Wilson three years. Paolo Rossi’s suspension was reduced to two years, Albertosi 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 first 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 less 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 among clubs, if found guilty, these should be relegated or given point deductions. And if it is between 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 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 could not 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 guided Perugia to an historic second place just a couple of seasons earlier.
Lazio started 1980-81 with the Coppa Italia. In the group stage they were paired with Pescara, Varese, Verona and Ascoli. They won all of the games with the exception of a draw with Ascoli, hence winning their group.
The impact in Serie B had also been positive and after nine games they were leading the pack together with Milan with a two-point advantage over third place. They had yet to lose, having won 5 and drawn 4.
The match: Sunday, November 16, 1980, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Bari started the game much better than Lazio and in the first 20 minutes almost scored when Aldo Serena collected a Roberto Bacchin assist and found himself unmarked in front of Moscatelli who managed to parry the powerful shot. The future Italy centre forward could then have tapped the ball in on the rebound, even if from a difficult position, but his shot went out.
At this point Lazio began playing. In the 24th minute a Bigon header beat Angelo Venturelli but Giuliano Belluzzi cleared on the line. Three minutes later there was a free kick on the right. Filippo Citterio crossed and Nando Viola scored.
In the 48th minute, splendid ball from Sanguin to Chiodi who once in the box made no mistake and scored his first goal for his new club.
Despite being two nil down, Bari still battled to try and score and a great volley from Bacchin was parried spectacularly by Moscatelli. After a couple of shots from Carlo Perrone and Chiodi which just missed the target, Lazio made it three. In the 75th minute Viola crossed from the left, Bigon got a touch but not the power, in came Mastropasqua and Lazio 3 Bari 0.
Who played for Lazio
Moscatelli, Spinozzi, Citterio, Perrone, Pochesci, Mastropasqua (75’ Manzoni), Viola, Sanguin, Chiodi, Bigon, Greco (82’ Cenci)
Substitutes: Nardin, Pighin, Valenzi
Manager: Castagner
Who played for Bari
Venturelli, Punziano, La Palma, Sasso, Canestrari, Belluzzi, Bagnato, Bitetto (69' Ronzani), Iorio (69' Mariano), Bacchin, A. Serena.
Substitutes: Grassi, Boggia, Curlo.
Manager: Renna
Referee: Mattei
Goals: 27’ Viola, 48’ Chiodi, 75’ Mastropasqua
What happened next
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 Milan, first game of 1981. The Rossoneri won 2-0 easily and installed a doubt in the players mind. “Perhaps we are not as good as we thought”. That, together with internal club turmoil, with Umberto Lenzini’s brothers ousting him out of the club, and the lack of money for wages, created a bad environment in the Lazio world. The Biancocelesti slowly began to lose ground. They 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 go 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 Biancocelesti were very nervous and played terribly. Claudio Vagheggi scored for the Vicentini in the 55th minute, Paolo Pochesci equalised a quarter of an hour later. In the 87th minute, penalty for Lazio. Biancocelesti supporters invaded the pitch in celebration. It took forever to take the spot kick but everybody was sure that Lazio had won, Chiodi had never missed a penalty, not even in training. He did this time. Genoa and Cesena had won, promotion was lost.
In Coppa Italia Lazio were eliminated in the quarter finals by Bologna.
The players with most appearances this season were Citterio and Viola with 43 games and the top scorer was Bigon with 10 goals.
Lazio 1980-81
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 32 |
Coppa italia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Total | 44 | 16 | 21 | 7 | 37 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Citterio | 43 | 38 | 5 |
Viola | 43 | 37 | 6 |
Mastropasqua | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Perrone | 40 | 34 | 6 |
Greco | 39 | 34 | 5 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Bigon | 10 | 9 | 1 |
Greco | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Citterio | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Viola | 7 | 7 | - |
Chiodi | 6 | 6 | - |
Lets talk about Stefano Chiodi
There is an Italian song that states that one should never judge a player by a missed penalty. That is very true, with one exception: Stefano Chiodi.
Chiodi was born in Bentivoglio, near Bologna, on December 26, 1956. After he started playing with the youth team of Progresso, at 15 he signed for Bologna. In 1974 he was sent to Teramo in Serie C to gain experience and he did rather well, scoring eight goals in 28 appearances. Back at Bologna in 1975 he began to play regularly and scored 18 goals in three years. He debuted on October 10, 1975, in the game against his future team Milan, scoring a goal.
In 1978-79 he signed for Milan. He was the centre- forward in a perfectly organised team, thanks to manager Nils Liedholm, with a mix of old and new players. The Rossoneri won their 10th scudetto also thanks to 7 goals scored by Chiodi, six of which on penalties. That season Gianni Rivera's last and he retired while Liedholm left to join Roma. The following season was marred by the Totonero scandal. Many players were accused of having bet illegally and then fixed matches. Chiodi was accused of misprision and was suspended for six months.
At the end of the season, before the various sentencings, President Umberto Lenzini had sold Giordano to Milan in exchange for Alberto Bigon and Chiodi. But not only had Giordano been suspended for three and a half years, Milan, as well as Lazio, had been relegated. As a consequence, the deal was off and Lenzini was forced to give Mauro Tassotti to Milan as partial payment.
Nobody thought Lazio would be relegated for the Totonero scandal. Four players were allegedly involved but not the club management, unlike Milan where the President had been involved directly. With no proof or reason, and just to keep the media happy who wanted more blood, Lazio were relegated to keep everybody happy, except the Biancoceleste world. Chiodi was now in Serie B, but he stayed.
The season had started well and 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).
Then came Lazio Milan, first game of 1981. The Rossoneri easily won 2-0 and the Biancocelesti slowly began to lose ground.
Three games from the end there was 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 Lazio, Cesena and Genoa were tied on 44 points. Final home game Lazio-Vicenza. On 1-1 with a last-minute penalty, Chiodi put the ball wide. Goodbye promotion hopes.
Life would never be the same for him. He was loaned to Bologna the next season but suffered a severe injury and at the end of the year the Rossoblu were relegated to Serie B for the first time in their long history.
Chiodi went back to Lazio for the 1982-83 season, but with the return of Bruno Giordano, he had little chance to “redeem” himself. On January 27, 1983, Lazio played a friendly against Palmeiras youth team. One-nil down in the 33rd minute the referee awarded a penalty to Lazio. The entire crowd shouted “Chiodi, Chiodi” to indicate that they wanted him to take the spot kick. He did and scored. Perhaps the fans had forgiven him.
That season Lazio were finally promoted to Serie A. Chiodi made 10 appearances with no goals.
In 1983 he signed for Prato in Serie C1 scoring 10 goals in 30 appearances. The year after he was at Campania again in C1. A few games for Rimini in 1985 was the end of his professional career. He played two more seasons in the fifth tier, Pinerolo and Baracca Lugo, before putting an end to his active football.
He opened a bar and got on with life. He also promoted and organised Giuliano Fiorini's memorial. Alas Chiodi too died of cancer, at the age of 52, on November 4, 2009.
That song mentioned in the beginning of the bio, states that a player must be judged by his courage, his altruism, his imagination. Chiodi was a nice guy, jovial, full of life. He did not deserve to miss that penalty, nor be forever remembered by it.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1980-81 | 28 (6) | 26 (6) | 2 |
1982-83 | 10 | 10 | - |
Total | 38 (6) | 36 (6) | 2 |
Sources