Perseteruan Fiorentina Dan Juventus (1): Momen Pahit 1982, Better Seconds Than Thieves

Fiorentina formation in the 1989/1990 UEFA Cup final (Photo: Wikipedia)

JAKARTA - Dusan Vlahovic changed his costume from Fiorentina to Juventus as well as being the umpteenth player who was considered a traitor by the Florence public. In the Italian football dictionary, the transfer of players from two rival clubs is illegal.

Not many football lovers know about Fiorentina's long feud with Juventus. Some people may only know the name Torino (Juventus city club) or Inter Milan as the mortal enemy of the team based in the city of Turin.

Then, since when did the feud between Fiorentina and Juventus start? What was the cause and why was the feud so enduring? Let's look at the following story, which we have summarized from various sources, one of which is from Muhammad Kusnaeni's 1998 book entitled Football Italia.

The incident began in the 1981/1982 season. Fiorentina, who was coached by Giancarlo De Sisti at that time, kept the aging mascot Giancarlo Antognoni. However, he added ammunition with a number of talented young players such as libero Pietro Vierchowod and striker Daniele Massaro.

For half the season Fiorentina led the league. But, ahead of the last game, their value acquisition can be equaled by Juventus. In the final match, Juventus traveled to Catanzaro, while Fiorentina to Cagliari.

Until the end of the first half, the position was still equal without a goal. Observers began to discuss the possibility of determining the champion through a play-off match.

There was a horrendous scandal. In the second half, I Viola scored a goal through Francesco Graziani. But somehow the referee annulled. At the same time, Juventus was awarded a penalty scored by Liam Brady in the 75th minute.

The title flew to Turin accompanied by Fiorentini's cries of pain. For weeks, they took to the streets to protest the refereeing leadership. But the FIGC (Italy's PSSI) did not budge and still ratified the Juventus title.

Until whenever, this decision will always be imprinted in the hearts of the I Viola fans. At that time they even shouted the words "Meglio secondi che ladri," which if translated "Better to be in second place than to be a thief".

Since then, conspiracy theories and Juventus' money politics have developed in the Serie A arena. When a similar case was experienced by Inter Milan in the 1997/1998 season, the most vocal Fiorentina management suspected a conspiracy.

That's also why the city of Florence partyed all night when Fiorentina beat Juventus 3-0 in the 1997/1998 season. For them, the victory was like winning the Scudetto.

It doesn't end there. Florence's public wounds to Juventus are deep. After Juventus was deemed to have stolen the 1982 Scudetto from Fiorentina's grasp, in the 1989/90 season the Bianconeri took action again.

In the 1985/1986 season, Fiorentina recruited a young player full of talent, Roberto Baggio, from Vicenza. At his new club, this curly-haired player grew up as an elegant striker and hungry for goals.

Four years later, in the 1989/1990 season, together with Brazilian midfielder Carlos Dunga, Baggio brought Fiorentina to the UEFA Cup final. Again their opponent is Juventus.

In the first match in Turin, Fiorentina lost 1-3. But they are still optimistic that they can win the title with a win at home. but fate was not in favor of Fiorentina again. Because their supporters were considered to be causing trouble in Turin, the FIGC banned Fiorentina from holding a second party at the Artemio Franchi stadium.

Unfortunately, the 'neutral city' chosen was Avellino. This small town does not have a big club. But Fiorentina supporters still don't like it because Avellino residents have a tradition of supporting Juventus. Sure enough, without the support of the local public, Fiorentina were forced to play a goalless draw. The title flew again.

Even more painful, just a few weeks later, Juventus stabbed I Viola from behind. On the eve of the 1990 World Cup, La Vecchia Signora hijacked Baggio for a record transfer – then – 8 million pounds. Baggio at that time admitted that he had no intention of leaving Florence by saying; "I was forced to accept this transfer."

The entire city of Florence was inflamed. Angry supporters even vent it through acts of violence on city streets. Juventus flags were burned and about 50 people were injured. Juventus is not only accused of 'stealing' the Scudetto and the UEFA Cup but their favorite star.

An angry Tifosi I Viola had stormed into the Italian national team's training camp in Coverciano, a small town near Florence. The target is not only Baggio, but also Nicola Berti. A year earlier, Berti left Fiorentina for Inter Milan.

However, the main target of public anger is the president of Fiorentina, Lorenzo Righetti. He is seen as incompetent and greedy. As a result, Righetti was forced to sell his stake to entertainment entrepreneur Mario Cecchi Gori. Before he died, the billionaire then bequeathed the presidency of I Viola to his son, Vittorio.

When Baggio returned to Florence the following season the guard was tight. The atmosphere of the stadium was tense because the Fiorentina supporters looked still angry.

The climax was when Juventus were awarded a penalty. At that time, the hosts had a one-goal lead through the execution of Diego Fuser. Baggio, a specialist Juventus penalty taker, suddenly refused to be the executioner. Obviously, not only the audience, the entire crew of La Vecchia Signora was confused.

Then Gigi De Agostini who took the execution failed to take advantage of it, then Baggio was withdrawn to be replaced by another player. But as he entered the dressing room, he picked up a Fiorentina scarf which was thrown onto the pitch by the fans. He then kissed her.

"Deep in my heart, I will always be purple (Fiorentina's color)," he said. To be clear, Baggio's 'behavior' is also difficult for Juventus to forgive.

However, Thomas Haesller, his teammate at the time, understood Baggio. “For the first time in my life, it was only then that I felt I was competing against 11 people. But against the whole stadium," said the German midfielder.

After the incident, Fiorentina tried to overcome the loss of Baggio by buying a young Argentine striker who later became a symbol of the Viola's superiority, Gabriel Omar Batistuta.