Juventus demand FIGC action over referees

Juventus have written to the Italian football federation and the referees' association demanding that action be taken to improve the performance of officials after recent controversial incidents.

Juve, third in Serie A, lost 2-1 at Reggina on Saturday after conceding a debatable penalty in stoppage time. Claudio Ranieri's side felt especially aggrieved after having three penalty appeals of their own turned down.

"Juventus again asks the federation to take immediate action to clean up a seriously compromised situation. We need to rediscover faith in referees and reinvigorate Italian football," said the letter which was published on Juventus's website ( www.juventus.com ).

The club are back in the top flight after spending last season in Serie B having been found guilty of procuring favourable referees in a match-fixing scandal.

"In the course of this season and last, Juventus have always tried to defuse tension with referees...accepting decisions with fair play, even controversial ones," the letter added.

"In the light of what happened at Reggio Calabria however, it is an attitude we must reconsider. Again in the course of this season Juventus have been damaged in an irreversible way by a decision of the referee."