Agnelli: Juventus don't recognise the FIGC's method of counting Scudetti

Posted Thursday, July 12, 2012 by Goal.com

Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has stated that the club do not recognise the Italian FA's (FIGC) methods of counting the number of Serie A titles the club have won.

The Old Lady lifted what would have been their 30th Scudetto last season, were it not for their titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06 being stripped in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal.

However, the club maintained their innocence throughout the saga, and were adamant that they would add a third star to the crest on their kits for the coming campaign.

And Agnelli revealed that the Bianconeri found a novel method of circumventing controversy when it came to designing their jerseys for next season.

"I always said that Juve would respect the decisions of that time [2006]," he said at the unveiling of the new kit.

"New facts have emerged, so I have decided not to agree with that decision. The games were legal and I have to protect the company which I represent as the president, and a fan of Juventus.

"We did the maths: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 etc equals 30. The arithmetic of the Federation is to miss out two and get 28. So we removed the two stars from the jersey, and wrote the words 'Thirty on the field' on the top."

Six years on, another match-fixing scandal, Scommessopoli, has plagued Italian football, and Juventus boss Antonio Conte was allegedly aware of illegal activities when he was the coach of Siena.

However, Agnelli has given Conte his full support, and said that the 42-year-old has not had an opportunity to clear his name.

"It's been all over the front pages several times," he continued. "But he hasn't had an opportunity to have his voice heard yet. On Friday, he's finally going to Rome, summoned by the court.

"I'll give my views: I know his values and his personality. He finally has the opportunity to go to court and explain his position under interrogation, before returning to Juventus in peace the next day."

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri had joked earlier on Wednesday that Juve had won 31 titles, including their Serie B triumph after being relegated for their part in the scandal, but Agnelli brushed off the 44-year-old's comments.

"It makes me laugh that he likes to talk about Juventus, without looking at his own home."