Francesco Totti Makes Accusations of Serious Foul Play After Juventus vs. Roma

Juventus and AS Roma played out a thrilling 3-2 spectacle during Sunday's Serie A action, but Giallorossi legend Francesco Totti had harsh words for the officiating when everything was said and done, even suggesting the Bianconeri were once again helped to a win.

As reported by 101 Great Goals' Dov Rawson, the Roma skipper didn't mince his words during an interview with Sky Italia:

"

It’s a huge shame after a good performance. We came to Turin to play our game, but you saw what happened and that affected the match.

For years the same old incidents keep happening. I don’t know if we were beaten by referees, but we certainly were not beaten by Juventus tonight.

[...] This was a match we really cared about, but Juventus ought to have their own League, as by hook or by crook they always win.

Are we back to the same doubts? I am not the only one saying this, as these are things everyone in Italy should discuss.

With Juventus when there is any doubt whatsoever, it’s always a penalty. I have to stop now, as if I keep talking then I’ll get suspended.

"

Juventus scored twice from the penalty spot and found a late winner through centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, whose brilliant goal shouldn't have stood as Arturo Vidal was in an offside position and in the sight lines of Lukasz Skorupski.

Totti himself also scored from the spot, and the match ended in a brawl that saw Alvaro Morata and Konstantinos Manolas sent off. Rudi Garcia was also sent to the stands, after he was spotted playing a small, imaginary violin after Carlos Tevez's first penalty goal.

Roma's director of football Walter Sabatini didn't agree with either of the penalty calls, via OptimeLive's Deji Faremi:

The disagreement over Juve's penalties stems from the fact that both fouls happened on the edge of the box. Douglas Maicon's handling of the ball and Miralem Pjanic's rash challenge could just as easily have resulted in free-kicks, but official Gianluca Rocchi pointed to the spot on both occasions.

Football Italia's Susy Campanale believed he twice made the correct decision:

Juventus have won three consecutive Serie A titles, and fans of rival clubs often suggest part of the reason is they consistently receive alleged help from the officials. Sunday's penalty fest was more of an exception, however, per WhoScored.com:

Match-fixing and foul play are touchy topics in Italy in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal that saw Juventus get relegated to the Serie B and stripped of two of their titles after it was discovered the Bianconeri had handpicked officials for several matches, via the Daily Mail's Lee Clayton.

The Italian newspapers certainly suggested they were once again up to their old tricks, via 101 Great Goals:

Totti's frustration with how the match played out is understandable, and there's no denying the early penalty calls and several cards allowed the thriller to get out of hand very quickly.

The Italian football association FIGC won't take allegations of foul play lightly, however, particularly given Serie A's recent history. Totti's harsh comments could result in a hefty fine or worse, even if he stopped himself from making matters worse.

The debate on the legitimacy of both penalties and Juventus' preferred treatment in Serie A will undoubtedly rage on, and fans will keep a close eye on how officials act in the Bianconeri's next few fixtures.

 Follow @ReverschPass