Why did Italy’s golden boy refuse to step up? The truth is more shocking than you think!
April 6, 1991. The sun shone on Florence, but inside the Artemio Franchi, a storm raged. Juventus faced Fiorentina, but this wasn’t an ordinary match; it marked Roberto Baggio’s return after leaving La Viola for the Old Lady. The atmosphere was electric.
Baggio was Fiorentina’s crown jewel. In the summer of 1990, a world-record transfer fee sent him away, shattering the hearts of Viola supporters. He was back in black and white at his former home ground. The fans had not forgiven; the banners were unwelcome, and the whistling was deafening.
Fiorentina, driven by passion, struck first. Diego Fuser’s free kick rattled the post before finding the net. The stadium erupted. The crowd was not merely celebrating a goal but making a statement. Juventus pressed for an equaliser. Then, in the 51st minute, something unusual happened.
As graceful as ever, Baggio dribbled past two Fiorentina players and charged into the box. Stefano Salvatori’s mistimed challenge brought him down. The referee pointed to the spot. Juventus were awarded a penalty. For a brief moment, the stadium fell silent.
Baggio has been Juventus’ go-to penalty-taker throughout the season. Five penalty kicks, five goals. This should have been routine. But instead of moving forward, he took a step back and refused to accept it.
Why? The reasons remain debatable. Didn’t he want to score against his former club? Was he overwhelmed with emotion? Or did he simply believe that Gianmatteo Mareggini, Fiorentina’s goalkeeper and former teammate, was aware of his penalty-taking techniques?
Luigi De Agostini took the shot instead. Mareggini predicted correctly. The ball stayed out, and the score remained at 1-0.
Minutes later, Juventus made a substitution. Baggio, the man at the centre of the controversy, was taken off. As he walked off the pitch, the jeers grew louder, and objects were hurled. Then came the moment of magic.
A Fiorentina scarf was tossed to the ground in front of him. Baggio, now off the pitch, knelt down, picked it up, and draped it around his shoulders. The whistles softened, and the rage dissipated. For a fleeting moment, love for him triumphed over betrayal.
The image was immortalised. A Juventus player wearing a Fiorentina scarf.
