1999–2000 Juventus F.C. season
Juventus came really close to adding to its remarkable collection of league titles, but in the end, a controversial refereeing decision would have blunted their title, and many neutrals felt it was poetic justice that Lazio won the title instead.
The background was that Juve led 1-0 at home to Parma in the 33rd of 34 rounds. Parma made a huge effort to equalise, and thought they had got the desired goal, when Fabio Cannavaro headed the ball into the back of the net during stoppage time. However, referee Massimo De Santis discovered a foul that was only apparent to him, and despite wild protest from the Parma players, the goal was disallowed.
On matchday 34, title rivals Lazio beat Reggina by 3-0 at home, but Juventus unexpectedly ran into problems at Perugia, where the heavens' opened at 0-0 in half time. Referee Pierluigi Collina decided to kick off the game, albeit half an hour too late. Nervous Laziali and players followed the Perugia-Juventus game via radio, and hoped that Juventus would be defeated. A draw would mean a re-match between the sides to decide the title, while a win would give Juventus another scudetto. The Juve players' efforts were in vain, since Alessandro Calori struck a half-volley into the back of the net with half an hour to go. With Juventus unable to reply, it lost the title in the final round of the season.
It was a bitter end to the season for the Turin club, who had led the table for most of the campaign and lost just one of their first 26 matches, only to collapse in the final 8 games (4 losses suffered in those games). To make matters worse, Juventus had endured a humiliating UEFA Cup run, being beaten 4-0 and eliminated in the round of 16 by Spanish club Celta Vigo. This was their earliest exit from European competitions since the 1987-88 UEFA Cup.
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Serie A
Matches
Top Scorers
Sources
| RSSSF - Italy 1999/00