At a time when Juventus is trying to write a new page in its history, Jonathan Zebina has revived the darkest one. The former French defender, questioned about the Calciopoli scandal, revealed some revelations which suggest a new reading of this troubled period. The ex-Bianconero, who stayed six seasons in Turin, claims to have kept certain memories for a long time “difficult to digest”.
His confidences, tinged with nostalgia and demands, bring to the surface one of the most explosive chapters in Italian football.
“These trophies are ours”
But behind the apparent revelation, Zebina is not talking about shenanigans or buried secrets. It evokes a feeling of dispossession. “We had an exceptional team and we won what we had to win,” he said, before adding bluntly: “These trophies are mine.” For the defender, the Scudetti of 2005 and 2006 – officially revoked after the scandal – morally remain the property of the players. “We are talking about one of the strongest Juventus in history: there were world champions, Ballons d’Or… We won on the pitch.”
His comments echo those of Buffon, Trezeguet and Del Piero, who never accepted that their efforts were erased from the charts. For Zebina, sporting truth cannot be erased by administrative decisions. Behind these words, there is a whole group of players who continue to live with the frustration of having seen their successes confiscated. Nineteen years later, the scar remains open, especially against Inter, to whom the 2006 title was awarded.
The ghost of Calciopoli still looms
The Calciopoli, revealed in 2006, led to the relegation of Juventus to Serie B and the dismissal of its two titles. Telephone tapping revealed contacts between Luciano Moggi and referee designators, plunging Calcio into an unprecedented crisis. But no proof of match fixing has ever been established. This is the point that Zebina and her former teammates continue to brandish as a symbol of injustice.
In Turin, Zebina’s statements are not trivial. They echo the Bianconera pride: that of a club which still claims its 38 Scudetti, despite the 36 officially recognized. Almost twenty years after the events, Juve has still not turned the page. And Zebina’s words confirm it: for these fallen champions, the truth on the ground never fades — even when the records say otherwise.
