Rocchi, the penalties, the controversies: what happened in Juve-Roma 2014

It’s 5 October 2014 and Juventus-Roma is being played in Turin, with the two teams tied for first place in the standings with 15 points, a clear run. The rivalry is strong, just like the tension. Before and after the match, which Juve will win 3-2 (here the scoresheet) amidst a thousand controversies, even infinite in some ways. It’s the game of Rudi Garcia’s famous violin, a way like any other to say “they play it and sing it by themselves”. But what really happened that evening at the Juventus Stadium?

The offending episodes

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Three penalties and as many expulsions, with the final goal by Bonucci which set off the anger of the giallorossi, due to the position of Vidal (in active offside) to cover Skuruski considered irrelevant by Rocchi. There were 5 minutes to go, an episode that ruined a distance challenge and maybe even a championship. But tensions arose already in the first half, with Maicon’s touch on Pirlo’s free-kick on the edge of the area (a very dubious decision) and the first penalty of the series, converted by Tevez. Garcia mimes the violin, Rocchi chases him away. Then Lichtsteiner tackled Totti in the area, another penalty and 1-1 for the Giallorossi. Then Iturbe gives Roma the lead, but the joy does not last long, because before the interval Rocchi is once again the protagonist: Pjanic touches Pogba on the edge of the area, for the referee it is still a penalty, but from the images it can be seen that the touch was out of bounds. Tevez goes on the spot again and makes it 2-2. Then comes the second half, with the reds to Manolas and Morata for mutual improprieties at the end of the game, but above all Bonucci’s 3-2 goal clearly to be cancelled. It is the straw that overflows the vase, which however was already very full with the two previous penalties, strongly contested by Roma.

Rage Rudi

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At the end of the match, Rudi Garcia has it all: “It’s interesting to see that here in Turin the penalty areas are 17 meters wide. We are in the 21st century, I think it’s time to resort to technological aid on the pitch for the referee : with the means that are available, the centimeters on penalties are perfectly visible”. Then the French coach insists: “The referee decides on the episodes, but this time he always decided in one direction. My expulsion? It’s not important. There were many episodes”. Manolas.”Morata made a very dangerous foul, but Manolas shouldn’t do the police alone”, commented the French coach again.

Totti and Sabatini

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In the end, the anger of the other Giallorossi explodes too, starting with Francesco Totti: “I’m sorry, what happened conditioned the game, for years there have been certain episodes that condition the vintages. I don’t know if we were beaten by the referee, definitely not from Juve. By hook or by crook they always win. The images speak for themselves. All of Italy should say this.” Then Walter Sabatini, yellow and red director at the time: “It is scientific that there were no two penalties and that Bonucci’s goal, despite being a great ballistic prowess, had to be cancelled. We accept the result, the defeat, we know the value of Juventus but the three goals weren’t good. I’m not here to heal football but the episodes are very clear to everyone”.