The similarity between the 1915 Scudetto and the 2020 Scudetto has already been mentioned, announced by Arturo Diaconale, the Head of Communications at Lazio.
Lazio continues to wait for the 1915 Scudetto; a title in which they believe is rightly theirs, but are not currently counting, as it is solely assigned to Genoa. This is because the 1914/15 Serie A campaign was ended prematurely; Italy joined the First World War, and Lazio’s players – amongst others – had to leave to fight other battles in Europe. This Scudetto chase is thanks to the Comitato Promotore (‘Promoting’ or ‘Organizing’ Committee) which, five years ago, started the process by questioning the league’s actions. However, although a story of sporting and social justice concerns, the decision has been on hold for too long.
All the documents were filed to the FIGC a while back and were judged not by one, but by two special commissions. The final response was expected by December 2019, but the problems related to the presidency of the Serie A – due to the resignation of Gianfranco Miccichè and the subsequent lawsuits – delayed the process which seemed to have been completed. This has since returned everything to a phase of stagnation, with Lazio waiting patiently, providing more and more evidence with the help of the Comitato Promotore.
With COVID-19 – also known as Coronavirus – bringing the 2019/20 Season to a halt, there is the possibility of the season being labeled as void or the Scudetto being awarded to the current table leaders (Juventus). Similarities have since been mentioned between this season and the 1915 season, with ‘The Guardian’ even publishing a feature to compare the two seasons; this is titled “Suspension of Lazio’s Scudetto charge reveals scars of century-old dispute.”
Although an article written in English about this topic is terrific for bringing awareness to the world about this injustice, inaccurate statements were made. As a result, the head of the Comitato Promotore, Gian Luca Mignogna, has issued a response for clarification purposes. Below, the letter that was sent to the Manchester-based newspaper.
“Dear ‘The Guardian,’
My name is Gian Luca Mignogna and I am the lawyer who is fighting alongside the Lazio fans regarding the unassignment of the 1915 Scudetto to Lazio, which currently only belongs to Genoa.
First of all, I would like to thank you, as a prestigious English newspaper, for mentioning my name and for bringing awareness about the issue I have been dealing with.
I must point out, however, that my battle for the 1915 Scudetto started almost five years ago, that is, from the 24th of May in 2015, which is the centenary day of Italy entering into the First World War.
My battle is for justice, for truth, for history and for ethics.
In recent years, my team and I have discovered many documents, which certify that the Italian Federation has never adopted the decision to award the 1915 Scudetto in favor of Genoa.
The official historiography which was handed down is fake, thus instrumentalizing the truth or at least some sort of misunderstanding.
The Italian Federation, between 1919 and 1921, limited themselves to awarding Genoa the title of ‘Northern Champion’, not that of a ‘National Champion,’ and in fact, in the Official Yearbook of Italian Football, published in 1928, the 1914/15 National Championship is labeled as ‘suspended’.
In regards to this, it must be added that if ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ was the official news outlet of the F.I.G.C for Northern Italy, we discovered that ‘L’Italia Sportiva’ was the official news outlet for Central and Southern Italy.
As the aforementioned newspaper (which ceased to exist in 1923) mentioned in October 1920, unlike what is reported in your article, it is said blatantly stated in ‘black on white’ that in 1914/15, Lazio was the Central-Southern Champion and, therefore, they were the only club that really qualified for the undisputed National Final of the 1914/15 season (which was suspended due to the first world war).
In 2016, the Italian Federation appointed a Commission of Experts that has confirmed my thesis, admitting the error that occurred over one hundred years ago, and established that the only possible solution to bring this injustice to an end is to assign the 1915 Scudetto as ‘equally deserved’ to both Lazio and Genoa, in full respect of legal, sporting and Olympic values.
The issue is very complex, as usual in Italy the truth is very hard to find, but it would be important that at least “The Guardian” spoke about it clearly, unequivocally and objectively.
I am available for any clarification, but in the meantime, the whole true history of this story and all the documents discovered are available in the category “Scudetto 1915” on the Italian website www.laziostory.it, of which I am an Editorial Director.
Thanking you immediately.
Sincerely.
Rome, March 18th 2020
Lawyer Gian Luca Mignogna.”