Serie B side Carpi have hit back at Lazio president Claudio Lotito after last week's controversy.
Lotito has stood by a phone call leaked by the press where he states Carpi's promotion would hurt Serie A's TV revenue.
"Carpi F.C. 1909 read, with disbelief and indignation, the conversation which was reported this morning by the media, supported by a sound clip which is apparently original and authentic published on the homepage of the official website of one of the leading national newspapers [La Repubblica]," a statement from the club declared.
"If confirmed, the words of the legal representative of the top flight clubs appear, apart from anything else, totally inappropriate, out of place and offensive to the dignity and integrity of the club as well as the players, technical staff and Coaches, the history they represent, and above all the fans who have always followed their team with dedication, honesty and fairness.
"Even more so, when one considers that the person who has expressed such judgments also holds the position as a councilor of the federation and is a member of the Presidential committee of the FIGC.
"Equally disturbing, that is to say unacceptable, is that a Serie A President, federation councilor and member of the FIGC's Presidential committee expresses sentiments of this kind in the presence of the President of our Association, the Lega Serie B, Andrea Abodi.
"Perhaps it's also true, as we read in the media today that some people 'don't even know Carpi exists'. But like it or not, we do exist.
"And, like it or not, we are a club who, although admittedly provincial, have won four titles in five seasons, starting from the amateurs and in our current tournament [Serie B], 17 rounds from the end are clear at the top, sitting 10 points above third place.
"Therefore, we deserve respect from everyone, just as we respect everyone, whether they're opponents, Presidents, Coaches, fans, referees or indeed anyone working in the sporting sector to which we belong.
"Serie B must remain impermeable to speculative assessments, and at the end the team which has gotten a better position and finished above the others must be promoted to Serie A, not whoever is able to generate more TV subscriptions or pay-per-view to attract a bigger audience.
"We refuse to even consider that such logic can be accommodated.
"It's intolerable that we, Carpi FC, be defined as 'teams which are not worth a cent'.
"Serie B is a competition in which the money, grants and payments are important, but even more important is the trust, integrity and honesty that we directors, athletes, coaching staff and Coaches of Carpi FC have always demonstrated.
"Serie B must be protected from every shadow, suspicion or even simple suggestion that is not governed by the one value that matters in the world of sport: meritocracy.
"The teams who wins titles are the ones with the best results, whether their name is Juventus, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Carpi."
