Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport has published pictures it
claims prove that Galatasaray groundsman damaged the pitch before the Juventus
clash.
Juventus are still reeling from their Champions League
exit after a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray that had to be restarted after a snow
storm.
The game was completed at the second time of asking but
the pitch at the Turk Telekom Arena was still in a poor state.
The sole goal of the game came from Wesley Sneijder in
the dying minutes and sentenced Juventus to the Europa League.
After the final whistle both Juventus coach Antonio Conte
and Galatasaray boss Roberto Mancini said that the game shouldn't have gone
ahead.
But Tuttosport believes there was a more sinister spin to
the whole thing and that the pitch was intentionally damaged by Galatasaray
staff.
The paper has printed pictures of the pitch being cleared
of snow with all the work being done on the half Juventus would be attacking.
Tuttosport insists that while the snow was being cleared,
groundsmen used rakes to dig up the pitch on that side, leaving the other half
in much better condition.
There were similar accusations levelled by Romanian side
CFR Cluj last year after their Champions League encounter was played on a
waterlogged pitch.
Nonetheless, Juventus will have to prepare for Europa
League football and attempt to reach the final which will be held on their home
ground.
Culled from Hereisthecity
0 comments:
Post a Comment