Fiorentina will square off against Lazio this Sunday looking to bounce back from last Monday’s controversial and bothersome draw away to Parma.
To say that the match against the Ducali caused an uproar in the land of the Viola is putting it lightly.
Now a 2-2 draw away to Parma is nothing to scoff at given that the Gialloblu are currently the in-form team in the Serie A thanks to a 13 match league unbeaten run that started in early November.
However it’s the final stages of the match that caught the headlines as referee Andrea Gervasoni sent off both Borja Valero and Gianni Munari after some handbags between the two during injury time.
The red card and subsequent ban was already going to be a bitter pill for the Viola to swallow considering Valero’s importance to the midfield, but things spiralled out of control when word came out that the Spaniard would be forced to sit out the next four matches for his offence.
While Munari only received the normal one match ban for a direct red card, Gervasoni accused Valero of placing his hands on the match official. As a result the Italian authorities opted to hit the former Villarreal man with a heavy ban and one that has lead to accusations of a conspiracy against the Gigliati by fans of the club.
Fiorentina have shown they can perform without Borja Valero in the past, but news of the Spaniard’s four match ban is a bitter pill to swallow at such a crucial time during the season.
Things were made even worse when underfire refereeing designator Stefano Braschi labelled Gervasoni’s work as “good” given that he “applied the rules when the players weren’t willing to respect them.”
Given that the Viola have already felt hard done by the referees this season after several dubious decisions, along with the quasi-farce that played with AC Milan over the final Champions League spot last season, it’s safe to say that Braschi’s words would have been better left unsaid so as to not stoke an already smoldering flame.
When you look over a list of recent heavy bans in the Serie A (Philippe Mexes four match ban for punching Giorgio Chiellini, Cristian Chivu four match ban for punching a Bari defender, Jonathan Zebina four match ban for slapping a match steward) it makes Valero’s ban that much more perplexing especially since it doesn’t appear as though the Spaniard was particularly incensed if one were to watch replays of the incident.
Why such a heavy hand for the Spaniard? Why the arrogance from Braschi when commenting on the incident? While there may not be a clear answer to either of those two questions, the hope is that at least some justice will be handed out via an appeal that the Viola have already stated they will file.
Ultimately, the hope is that all of this extracurricular uproar won’t take away from the Gigliati’s performance on the pitch as they will be facing a tough Lazio side that have regained their confidence under Edy Reja.
Fiorentina vs Juventus. Three times over 11 days. Safe to say it will be interesting.
Given that Fiorentina didn’t look worse for wear during what was ultimately a training session against Esbjerg during the second leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie, a win against the Biancocelesti would be welcome before the upcoming three matches in 11 days against “them”, the hated rivals that are Juventus.
The hope is that things will get back on track starting this Sunday because as the following words from Borja Valero’s wife proves, despite all the negatives that have hit the Viola this season, nothing can break the unity that bonds the club and the city. Not even a four match ban for one of the city’s most beloved players.
“In Careggi everyone from the baker, to the baker, to the bus driver…everyone tells me that they are with Borja Valero and that they support him. This is Florence.”
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
