Dabizas blasts Del Piero


By Matthew Jones
October 3 2002

Nikos Dabizas claims that Del Piero dived to earn Juventus a freekick that earned them the lead against Newcastle. The first of Piero's two goals. Newcastle United defender Nikos Dabizas has blasted Alessandro del Piero after Wednesday's 2-0 defeat by Juventus.

The Greek international says Del Piero dived to win a free-kick which lead to Juve's opening goal in their Champions League clash.

He said, "Del Piero definitely dived. I never touched him, he went to ground very easily.

"I think the referee made a bad decision which cost us the game. I don't think I made any contact, if I did, it was the slightest touch.

"I did not pull his shirt or push him, it was a bad decision against us.

"Before the competition, we knew we would get different decisions in the Champions League than in the Premiership. We lost to a very bad one."

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