Key Takeaways
- Hellas Verona sporting director Sean Sogliano received a red card for dissent during the final moments of the 1-1 draw against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium.
- The Verona chief accused Juventus players and staff of poor conduct, suggesting the behaviour reflects wider cultural problems in Italian football.
- The result keeps Juventus in fourth position in Serie A, maintaining a four-point advantage over fifth-placed AS Roma.
Hellas Verona sporting director Sean Sogliano has launched a fierce attack on Juventus following Sunday’s Serie A clash in Turin. The match finished 1-1, with the already-relegated visitors holding the Bianconeri to a draw at the Allianz Stadium.
Sogliano watched the game from the touchline alongside the Verona substitutes and coaching staff. However, the match official sent him off during stoppage time after awarding a free kick to the home side. The director clearly lost his temper with what he saw from the opposing bench.
Speaking to Sky Sport after the final whistle, Sogliano did not hide his anger. He claimed that Juventus players and officials showed a bad attitude throughout the contest. The Verona director suggested that if he spoke honestly about what he heard, he would lose his job.
“I saw things today that I do not like,” Sogliano explained. “We always speak about culture and why we failed to reach the World Cup. It is the same old story here. Even when playing against a team that has already gone down, I heard comments that I cannot repeat. If I shared my real thoughts, I would probably have to stop working.”
The Verona chief also criticised the Turin giants for complaining to the referee. He pointed out that a big club should not need help from officials when their own supporters would soon return the ball for play to continue. He demanded that cameras film both dugouts so fans could see what really happens on the touchline.
“Verona showed great pride to earn this point,” Sogliano added. “If someone gets sent off for reacting to certain things, then film both benches. We can then discuss something other than VAR. I say this as a man whose team is already relegated, so people do not care about my opinion. I am going home proud of my players and our club.”
On the pitch, Verona shocked the hosts by taking the lead in the first half. Juventus manager Thiago Motta brought on Dusan Vlahovic at the break, and the Serbian striker scored the equaliser to rescue a point for the home side.
The draw leaves Juventus sitting fourth in the Serie A table. They hold a four-point lead over AS Roma, though the capital club have one match still to play against Fiorentina on Monday evening.