The game had promised so much. In front of a record breaking 65,000 crowd, we were to witness a clash between some of the greatest stars on the world scene, with the Italian title at stake, for good measure.

By the end, bitter controversy reigned with Inter's Brazilian Ronaldo claiming he had been robbed and his coach, Gigi Simoni, having been sent off after completely losing his temper to stage a one-man pitch invasion in midplay. By the end, the neutral spectator was left with a bitter taste in the mouth while reporters gathered round to hear Ronaldo cry foul, saying: "They can punish me, they can fine me but at this stage, I just can't remain silent. This was a disgrace and all the world should know it . . .

"There was a clear penalty for a foul on me, a penalty which only the referee didn't see . . . After this game and given the other things that have happened, I feel that I have been robbed. This was just a disgrace."

The "penalty" to which he was referring came midway through the second half of Sunday's all decisive top of the table clash in Turin. The record books will record that Juventus won this game 1-0 and that, in so doing, wrapped up their 25th league title in all but mathematical certainty. With just three games to play (against Vicenza, Bologna and Atalanta), Juventus look home and dry.

What the record books will not show, however, is that referee Piero Ceccarini played a crucial role in the final outcome of the game. The record books will not tell future soccer statisticians that Ceccarini overlooked a definite penalty for Inter (and Ronaldo) and then conceded one to Juventus all within the space of 25 seconds in the second half.

Nor will soccer historians know that last Sunday's game was played in an especially tense context. Juventus came into the game just one point clear of Inter but after a season when on at least two occasions, controversial refereeing decisions have gone their way.

Decision number one came last November when Juventus were at home to Udinese. With the game at 1-1 and with the visitors playing well, Udinese's German striker Oliver Bierhoff appeared to score a good goal with a well placed lob which Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara cleared, but only after it had all too clearly crossed the line.

At least it had seemed clear to everyone except the referee who, caught some way off the action, over-ruled the valid goal. Juventus went on to win the game 4-1.

Decision number two came 10 days ago when Juventus were winning 1-0 away to Empoli. Home team defender Stefano Bianconi got up to head home a late equaliser following a corner kick. Again the ball had clearly crossed the line before goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi scooped it away. Again, the referee over-ruled the goal and Juventus went on to win 1-0. (In both cases, TV replays proved beyond doubt that both goals had been valid).

Take those recent events, add the tradition and political clout of Italy's most famous soccer side, Juventus, owned by the flagship of Italian industry, automobile giant FIAT, and then add again an instinctive Italian passion for conspiracy theories and you have the background to the sturm und drang prompted by referee Ceccarini's decisions last Sunday.

Few of us who were at the Stadio Delle Alpi can believe that sporting justice was either done or seen to be done. Watching from the grandstand, it was easy to sympathise with those Inter fans and team officials (including petrol millionaire owner Massimo Moratti) who claim that Italian referees are psychologically intimidated by Juventus.

All in all, it was a disappointing conclusion to what has thus far been a fascinating, tightly fought championship contest. Juventus and Inter are undoubtedly the two best sides this season in what is still (See European Cup results) the most technically demanding league in the world. Furthermore, these two terrific sides feature two of the most glittering talents around - one Ronaldo and one Alessandro Del Piero.

It was a pity that neither got much room to shine in the context of a game that was a tightly marked, tough encounter in the first half and a frenetic, ill-tempered scrap in the second.

Del Piero did, however, score the all important goal, using all his remarkable brilliance to take advantage of a defensive lapse by Inter's Nigerian Taribo West, after only 21 minutes. His 40-yard weaving run and his narrow angle, winning shot bore all the hallmarks of a class act. If he continues in this form, then Italy go to the World Cup finals with a devastating extra weapon.

Ronaldo did his best in a difficult situation where the Juventus midfield organisation consistently denied him service. He still prompted two brilliant late saves from Peruzzi to prove one more time that when the stakes are high, he can put himself about. As with Del Piero, so with Ronaldo - if he maintains his springtime form, then his World Cup campaign will be memorable.

Those were the positive thoughts on an afternoon that left much to be desired.

Many of us would argue that this Juventus is a great side capable of winning the Italian title on its own merits. The pity is that, given the poor refereeing decisions of last Sunday, that opinion will remain only a theory. The reality is that Juventus are on their way to winning the title, thanks as much to questionable refereeing as to their own abilities.