Two stories hit the headlines in Italian sports newspapers and websites this past week.

In the first, it was reported that last Sunday, the players of Parma, a team fighting to retain its place in the top division, argued with the players of Bari, a team at the bottom of the standings with little hope of avoiding relegation.

The reason for the argument was that Parma players felt that Bari should not have played so well against them, since they are more or less already relegated. Bari won the match, but the points won did not improve their position much, whereas if Parma had won the game they would have moved clear of the relegation zone.

The second story is similarly serious. It was reported that the results of the Brescia-Bologna and Chievo-Sampdoria games were “tacitly fixed”. No money exchanged hands and no underhand irregularities were committed, but Brescia, in deep relegation trouble, found it easygoing against safe Bologna, while Chievo and Sampdoria, two teams just above the relegation zone, shared the spoils in a draw that satisfied both, with not much sweat lost during the game.

Now, Italy has had more than its fair share of football scandals. The last major one took place just before the 2006 World Cup, and we are still getting news about that too. Juventus had won the 2006 title on the pitch, but the championship was later awarded to Inter. Well, Juventus are still seeking to have Inter give up that “victory”.

News such as the reports we had this past week once again dent the credibility of Italian football. Bari were simply doing their duty – play to win – and Parma players should never have accused them of being professional. As to the other two games, it is unfortunate that reports of silent understandings emerge every year in Italy at this time of the year, when the season is about to close.

These things seem to happen only in Italy – as there were several reports, in the past, of teams doing favours to others, whether it was in the championship race or the fight to avoid relegation.

It happens mostly in the last few games of the season, and this tactic is used for several reasons. It could be that, who knows, maybe next year one team would need the same favour, or else as a payback for a “favour” already rendered, or to obtain a reduction on the sale of a player.

The reasons are varied – but, whatever they are, it is wrongful behaviour. The pity is that there is no official transaction when such matches are arranged, and therefore it is hard to put the blame on anyone involved.