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Ex-Referee Piero Ceccarini: I Made A Mistake In Juventus – Inter

After 11 years, Ceccarini has admitted that he should have at least awarded an indirect free kick for Iuliano’s foul on Ronaldo.

Apr 20, 2009 10:28:09 AM

Ronaldo & Francesco Moriero - Inter (Grazia Neri)

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Ronaldo & Francesco Moriero - Inter (Grazia Neri)

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Juventus edged Inter 1-0 on April 26, 1998, but the victory was extremely controversial as former Nerazzurri striker Ronaldo was denied what appeared to be a clear penalty after being blocked by Bianconeri stopper Mark Iuliano.

And referee Piero Ceccarini awarded Juve a dubious spot kick soon after for Taribo West’s foul on Alessandro Del Piero, prompting an angry reaction from Inter players and coach Luigi Simoni.

“I watched replays the following day, I made a mistake,” Ceccarini admitted to La Gazzetta dello Sport this morning.

“However, I would have awarded an indirect free kick in the penalty box. I don’t want to come off as arrogant, but that was obstruction.

“I guess I was too close and sometimes that does not help. I thought that the Juve player was standing still and Ronaldo crashed into him. I had no doubts and waved play on. And it was the same 30 seconds later when I awarded Juve a spot kick.

“I was massacred. My son was 16-years-old at the time and it was not easy for him. Of course, explaining things would have helped.”

Inter were trailing Juve by one point as they travelled to the Stadio delle Alpi and eventually lost the Scudetto to the Old Lady.

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

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