The latest NEW Scandal: Calcioscommesse – The Shoutbox – By Fans. For Fans. (Jul 30-Aug 5)

July 31, 2012

July 31, 2012

After a short summer hiatus, The Shoutbox is back! The transfer window is wide open, and while the many rumors of buying / selling Mr. ________ fly through the media, the main topic on everyone’s mind is the latest scandal in Italian football.

We might post an article later on with background details on Calcioscommesse and how it may affect other Juventus players like Simone Pepe and Leonardo Bonucci, but as of today it seems that Antonio Conte will accept a three-month ban rather than try to prove his innocence as part of the match-fixing probe.

Conte has been charged with failing to report knowledge of attempts to allegedly fix two games while he was in charge of Siena and, while being cleared of sporting fraud, he faces charges that he was aware of the illegal circumstances surrounding the controversial fixtures against Novara and Albinoleffe.

There is a risk that if Conte tries but fails to clear his name he could be banned for seven months, so may opt for a plea bargain of a three-month ban and a €200,000 fine, forcing him to miss ten Serie A and three Champions League matches, returning to the bench for the Week 11 encounter against Inter.

Much like Batman in the second of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy – The Dark Knight – it seems that Conte may have to take the fall for ‘the greater good’ of the club, league, and season.

What do you think about this scandal and Conte’s plea bargain deal?

Should Conte fight to clear his name and restore his innocence?

Should Conte “play nice” and accept a reduced sentence?

Is this all just another witch-hunt by the evil powers that be and their blatant anti-Juve agenda?

Is this the worst birthday present ever? (Conte’s birthday is today July 31st)

Share your thoughts in the comments below! The Shoutbox is back and we want to hear you, so heed that bat-signal and:

★ RAISE YOUR VOICE! ★

The Shoutbox – By Fans, For Fans is your all-week open Juve-debate, no restrictions, no boundaries. Share what you want, say what you want, and face the diverse music of the global choir of Juventini! We want to hear your thoughts on all things Black & White! The idea behind The Shoutbox is that YOU direct the conversation. So bring it on!

NEW to The Shoutbox? Wanna learn all about it? Check out the first post of the series for a full description.

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Abdul Azim

Conte should just accept it so as to not lose in the appeal. And get held back for longer!
Hanso

I think he should fight instead of accepting. I was not in the room, so I don’t know of he is innocent?
The Bonucci case looks much worse. What about Criscito who was sent home from the EUROs?
Forza Juve!
JoseR

He should not take the plea, 7 months of inactivity are better than a lifetime of being called a cheat. I am not saying that if he takes the plea he must be guilty but that is the way everyone is going to spin it. If anything, the only thing he is guilty of, is not reporting (if that). But everyone is going to say that he cheated and he probably is still cheating.
Vittorio

If the judicial setting was not Italy, I would be offended if Conte didn’t fight for himself, and I suspect he feels the same way. However, there is no point fighting a rigged judicial system that has already marked him as guilty. It is absolutely ridiculous that he is being accused of not reporting something that could merely have been a rumor at the time. With all the shadows surrounding Italian football, how can you know if there is a real possibility of match-fixing, and how do you prove it? How can you prove that Conte knew about it clearly and decided not to do anything? Plus, we’ve already seen how Moggi has fought for years, presented all this evidence which was taken into account by a judge, only for the judge to say “Having seen all this contrary evidence, you’re still banned for life”. Conte, like Moggi, cannot win. This is complete anti-Juve bullshit, especially when you consider that Inter will not have to pay anything for their stolen Serie A titles, our persecution or their general raping of the Serie A landscape of players, reputation, etc, all for their own gain.
- http://twitter.com/SJ_SETHI SJ_JUVE
  
  the difference is in italy many people has come to realize the fact the justice system is rigged while in other countries it is more hidden. Every country follows similar system n people with power abuses it ensure they, companies they own n people close to them stay in power
- Ivan
  
  That is absolutely right. I agree with you.
http://twitter.com/Gabokappa Gabriel Gonzalez

For Juve’s immediate future I wish he take the plea. For his sake and for the long term future of Juve I hope he fights back. If he is truly innocent then its a chance to clear his name, and highlight the unfair accusations that are flying about. If he takes the plea I think he/juve will always be labeled as guilty and taking the plea would be held as proof of it. It’s a hard one.
http://twitter.com/wpazzurri Weston David Pagano

I don’t even want to think about it. Makes me sick.
INTER MERDA

INTER MERDA
http://twitter.com/SJ_SETHI SJ_JUVE

Conte shd fight n clear his name n so should pepe. I mean this case (even zamparini thinks is a joke) is completely bullshit they r trusting players who agreed to match fix for money so how on earth can u trust them with anything they say. n Why is the seina club, the president who apparently tried to fix to albinoleffe -seina match (one of which conte is accused for), n other staff n players not being called. why is it only conte, stellini n alessio (at this point i m glad marrone is not invloved). N conte brought the signs of 21 people to prove his innocence n yet they r charging him for this. I rather not have conte for a season than him take a fall just so he can return earlier. I wish palazzi rots in hell.

Abt bonnuci i have no idea how through is the reports abt it (i dont trust any justice system of any country or the player making the claim) but if he is guilty then i hope he receives further punishment from the club.
http://twitter.com/SJ_SETHI SJ_JUVE

Conte shd fight n clear his name n so should pepe. I mean this case (even zamparini thinks is a joke) is completely bullshit they r trusting players who agreed to match fix for money so how on earth can u trust them with anything they say. n Why is the seina club, the president who apparently tried to fix to albinoleffe -seina match (one of which conte is accused for), n other staff n players not being called. why is it only conte, stellini n alessio (at this point i m glad marrone is not invloved). N conte brought the signs of 21 people to prove his innocence n yet they r charging him for this. I rather not have conte for a season than him take a fall just so he can return earlier. I wish palazzi rots in hell.

Abt bonnuci i have no idea how through is the reports abt it (i dont trust any justice system of any country or the player making the claim) but if he is guilty then i hope he receives further punishment from the club.
Ale Massimo

I hate to say that option number 2 is the best but it seems there are apparently many elements of number 3 present as well. I don’t wanna be that crazy guy who believes all the conspiracy theories but why does this always seem to come down on Juve and nobody else? It takes a team to fix a match, so why aren’t all 11 players and coaches accused at the same time, not just the current juventini??? If all it took was 1 person to throw a match then it would be way too obvious and difficult, probably only keepers could pull it off. Plu there would be a lot of mafiaso capos out there losing a lot of money because the players couldn’t pull it off and figc would be the least of worries…
…Or am i just crazy?
JOSHUA

1) Fight!!! Fight!!!!! But maybe he knows that he’s screwed anyway, so he accepts a reduced ban so that he can return as soon as possible and fuck Inter and the FIGC with aplomb. But I still think he should fight and really shove this shit up the FIGC’s arses.

2) Should NOT. Period.

3) You think?

4) Well, just like Forrest Gump implied, shit happens.
JDAngkasa

I’ve lost my energy because of this fucking comedy. I thank Italians for Juventus, but honestly, this is just ridiculous. It’s almost as ridiculous as corruption in my country.
JBVI

If conte is as innocent as he says he should not fear anything. However at the same time if he plays nice he will be able to help juventus. Nothing like the italian justice system!!
JBVI

If conte is as innocent as he says he should not fear anything. However at the same time if he plays nice he will be able to help juventus. Nothing like the italian justice system!!
JBVI

If conte is as innocent as he says he should not fear anything. However at the same time if he plays nice he will be able to help juventus. Nothing like the italian justice system!!
Dirtbunny

This whole thing makes me heartsick. Normally, I’m in favor of taking responsibility and accepting punishment. HOWEVER, Juve took that road in 2006 and ended up suffering far worse than other involved teams that just denied everything and pointed fingers at others.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001218894911 Matthew Talarico

The whole scandal is a complete joke. I am a Serie A supporter through and through and more importantly a heartfelt Juventus fan. He is also being implicated on a game that was “fixed” to tie 1-1 and he ended up going out and WINNING 5-0. The Judicial system in Italy is a joke. So was Calciopoli. You can not seriously believe that in 2006 a team of Del Piero, Nedved, Thuram, Ibra, Zambrotta, Cannavaro etc. Would need match fixing to win games… Hell Juventus had arguable the best team in the world at the time with only minimal competition from Milan, Barcelona and “maybe” Arsenal. And right when Juventus gets back up and shows we are one of football’s most historic winning teams, the system tries to dethrone us by implicating our immediate success coach who is building for a CL run. Not to mention the 2006 team basically everyone was in their primes. This whole thing sickens me. What bothers me even more is the non-Serie A supporters calling our league corrupt… Do people honestly believe that fraud/fixing does not go on in other leagues? Or in general? I mean, look at United’s home games, look at 2009 CL Semi-Final Barca vs Chelsea, how much diving Barcelona does and gets away with it when its completely obvious. There’s fixing going on in every league, people just don’t want to admit it. The Premier League and fans won’t admit it because they won’t “Tarnish” their image, and Barcelona and Real Madrid have so many bandwagon fans its not funny, that would immediately come to defend their so called team. Hell Spain has 25% unemployment rate, and an 180 Million Euro bailout barely did anything for them… The only reason that league hasn’t gone completely under is because the corrupt government wants to keep Madrid and Barca up top, otherwise more than half the league is beyond in debt. Even worse than Milan.
- Ivan
  
  “Do people honestly believe that fraud/fixing does not go on in other leagues? Or in general?” – It is sad but true (metallica pun intended!)
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H2RGNJF76Q7X7GZVVK6M2NGHBQ W

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Okay, 1 & 2 might be contradictory, but at this point I’d take a 3 month Conte ban over whatever bullshit they’re trying to pull.
disqus_O5rx78CDOZ

1.
If you’re innocent you fight & prove it whatever the cost. Juventus has laid down once, twice would be #UNACCEPTABLE
3. I’m certainly not getting involved in the woe-is-Juve conspiracy theory #DownSinceDayOne
Jared

I’m sorry but all I can say is “FUCK THIS SHIT.” As a previous poster mentioned, Juve has been dominant and are now being persecuted. This is not unlike the Farsopli crap. Inter is weak due to mismanagement. Milan just sold their two best players(aside from Cassano) so, Juve is set to dominate. And, what do you know? Conte is set to get banned for some nonsense. I’m sick. I’m fucking sick.
Linez

One word, FIGHT!!!