Tuesday 19 April 2016 07:57, UK
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri conducted himself with dignity again in the eye of the storm, writes Jordan Halford.
There is a code of honour that originates and still remains strong throughout southern Italy known as Omerta. Having been observed as far back as the 16th century, it means, 'the categorical prohibition of co-operation with state authorities or reliance on its services, even when one has been victim of a crime.'
Adopted by notorious criminal organisations such as the Cosa Nostra, Camorra and 'Ndrangheta, Omerta places importance on silence. In Mafia culture, breaking this oath is punishable by death.
Whilst Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri certainly does not belong to any of the above, the noble Roman's silence following Sunday's controversial refereeing performance by Jon Moss in a 2-2 draw with West Ham United was admirable.
"I don't want to see and I don't want to tell you my feelings," Ranieri told the press after the final whistle.
"I just want to say never ever in my life do I speak about the referee, the referee is a part of the game and that is it."
With the Premier League leaders beating West Ham 1-0, their task was made all the more difficult in the 56th minute when they were reduced to 10 men after striker Jamie Vardy was sent off for a second bookable offence for simulation.
The England striker appeared to have been upended in the box by Angelo Ogbonna, but after a theatrical fall, referee Moss brandished another yellow, to the bewilderment of Ranieri in the technical area.
"I don't want to speak about the referee and Vardy," said Ranieri.
"You watched the situation better than me. I want to stay calm and speak about football. You are a journalist and you are to write about what you see.
"On the bench, it is very difficult to say sending-off or penalty. Maybe you watch better than me on television."
Vardy has since been charged with improper conduct for launching a tirade of abuse in the direction of Moss following the decision, with Leicester also charged with failing to control their players when the official awarded a controversial penalty to West Ham after Wes Morgan had been adjudged to have tugged back Winston Reid in the area.
Substitute Andy Carroll converted the resulting spot kick but the drama wasn't to end there, though, as Aaron Cresswell looked to have snatched all three points for Slaven Bilic's men with a stunning strike from the edge of the box just two minutes later.
Robert Huth then had a penalty claim of his own waved away in the 90th minute after he was hauled to the ground by Ogbonna, but Moss did award Leicester a debatable penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Carroll stepped across Jeff Schlupp and he went down under minimal contact on the edge of the box.
"It was always going to happen," Carroll told Geoff Shreeves after the game.
"He's [Schlupp] took a touch, the ref's looking to even it out."
Another substitute, this time Leonardo Ulloa, stepped up to calmly convert from 12 yards and salvage what could prove to be a crucial point in Leicester's hunt for their first top-flight title in their 132-year history, while Carroll's post-match remarks remain under scrutiny from the FA.
"Leo is a grand man, a fantastic man and after a good player," said the Italian.
"I am very sad, not for the sending-off, because now he [Vardy] can't play in the next match.
"But I think Ulloa can replace him. He is a fantastic man and fantastic player and I'm sure we will play with the same level, strength and will."
Ranieri's notion of recognising the character of his players before their ability and his refusal to be drawn towards the performance of the official rather than that of his players speaks volumes of the 64-year-old that has been 'The Godfather' behind Leicester's miraculous title charge.
"When we conceded the second goal, my players wanted to draw. Fantastic, amazing," he continued.
He will have to rely on the Argentine striker to partner Shinji Okazaki in attack against Swansea City on Sunday, while Vardy's charge means he could also miss the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, May 1, as the England striker and Leicester have until 6pm on Thursday to reply to the charges.
It was only the second time this season Leicester have been reduced to 10 men, with Danny Simpson receiving his marching orders in the Foxes' last defeat against Arsenal way back on Sunday, February 14, eight games ago.
Martin Atkinson, England's representative at Euro 2016 and who was unable to officiate at the King Power Stadium on Sunday along with Mark Clattenburg due to UEFA fitness tests, showed the right-back two harsh cautions inside six bizarre second-half minutes at the Emirates Stadium before Danny Welbeck's winner deep into stoppage time broke Leicester hearts.
But Ranieri, ever pragmatic, remained gracious despite his side's controversial defeat.
"We know Arsenal are a fantastic team, they move the ball quickly and have skill, but we had to concentrate," he said after the game.
"We tried to counter attack and we controlled the match very well.
"They scored with the last chance - they were smarter than us.
"We are still top of the table, got two points more - we must carry on and smile.
"We lost to our opponents - we must say well done."
Often the bridesmaid and never the bride, perhaps it is this principled quality that saw Ranieri finish as a runner-up at Chelsea when he guided the Blues to their best league position in 49 years after they finished runners-up to Arsenal's 'Invincibles' in 2004, the first team for over a century to go the entire league season unbeaten.
In September 2004, he also published a book named 'Proud Man Walking' chronicling his last year at Stamford Bridge,with all proceeds going to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Frank Lampard, who played under the 'Tinkerman' during his three-and-a-half year spell in London, recalled the Italian's persona to the Daily Mirror in March.
"I owe him everything," said Frank.
"If it wasn't for Claudio, I wouldn't have had the career I had. I wouldn't still be playing, probably.
"He changed my career. I was at West Ham and I was a youngster who didn't know the continental style and the way to live my life. I remember going to his house and signing for Chelsea.
"He took me in and told me how he could improve my game and how I'd fit in at a club the size of Chelsea.
"In the second year, we beat Arsenal in the Champions League - the Invincibles team - to get into the semis. it was a good year. He knew he was leaving, but he handled it with such dignity.
"He helped me improve, especially defensively. I love him.
"No one had a bad word to say about Claudio at Chelsea. He carries himself really well - the way he speaks, the way he deals with situations."
Ranieri would also go on to finish as a runner-up to Jose Mourinho's Inter at both Juventus and boyhood club AS Roma before finishing behind champions Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 with Monaco.
But he would exact revenge of sorts this season when a 2-1 win for Leicester over troubled Chelsea back in December put the final nail in Mourinho's proverbial coffin and the Portuguese was dismissed for the second time by Roman Abramovich.
Following Sunday's dramatic 2-2 draw with West Ham, Ranieri's side lead Tottenham by five points with just four games to play following their comfortable 4-0 thrashing of Stoke City on Monday Night Football.
Along with Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, Ranieri has undoubtedly been the manager of the year with both displaying the deserved admiration for the respective jobs that each have done, rather than the usual mind games that we are accustomed to in the race for the title.
"If the other team, it could be Tottenham or Arsenal, is better than us and wins the title, well done," he said after the final whistle at the King Power Stadium.
"We are doing the maximum. If there is another team who play better and win more than us, well done to them.
"After the sending off, it changed totally our match but I am so proud because I always ask my players give me their soul and their heart until the end.
"Always I believe. We have showed this season that everything is possible with the Foxes."
Leicester now require eight points from their final four games to mathematically guarantee a fairy-tale Premier League title, with calls from some for Ranieri to be knighted if the Foxes can finish off the job.
"Sir Claudio? Unbelievable," he remarked.
"I like it, but don't joke please!"
Whichever way the title goes in May, few could argue that there would be a more deserving man than the most humble and charismatic Italian in the Premier League.
