Italian FA in administration

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

The Italian Football Federation - the country's FA - was placed under emergency administration yesterday as a consequence of match-fixing and corruption allegations which have already seen the president Franco Carraro and his deputy Innocenzo Mazzini resign.

Guido Rossi, the 75-year-old former head of the national stock-market regulator Consob, will be in charge of the federation with a six-month renewable mandate and is expected to introduce new regulations.

 

Police authorities raided Carraro's offices and his home in Rome. They also seized documents at the headquarters of the Italian referees' association as part of the investigations that followed after the contents of tapped telephone conversations involving Juventus's general manager Luciano Moggi were revealed.

 

Moggi was talking to officials responsible for the appointment of the referees Pierlugi Pairetto and Paolo Bergamo. He also spoke to Italy's coach Marcello Lippi, asking him to select players represented by his son Alessandro and with the journalist Aldo Biscardi about which referees to criticise and which to defend on TV.

Prosecutors are looking closely at 19 matches in the 2004-05 season, 12 involving Juventus, for irregularities in refereeing decisions. Nine Serie A and B clubs - including Lazio, Fiorentina and Milan - and 41 individuals are under investigators' scrutiny. That includes the referee Massimo De Santis who had been chosen for the World Cup but will not go now.

 

Juventus are facing the prospect of being stripped of their last two titles and facing their first ever relegation. "We need rules that will be a deterrent and with serious sanctions," Rossi said.

 

A decision on the case is expected soon as Juventus, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio need to know if they will be admitted to play in the next European competitions.

 

It's enough to turn you off the game all together

[Cobs]

kick 'em out of Europe for 5 years

[Figaro]

That means Fabio C will be heading to Madrid as fast as he can burn his agendas

[matty]

That means Fabio C will be heading to Madrid as fast as he can burn his agendas

 

diario.

[Figaro]

diario.

 

Was going to put it like that, but it just didn't look right...

 

I need to get out more...

 

If Juve get sent down I think there will be a massive influx of the players over here

[Guest Cardie]

Place your bets.

 

Zambrotta - Madrid/Barca

Buffon - Milan

Ibrahimovic - Madrid

Trezeguet - Arsenal

[MarkD]

Place your bets.

 

Zambrotta - Madrid/Barca

Buffon - Milan

Ibrahimovic - Madrid

Trezeguet - Arsenal

 

Thuram - Arsenal

Del Piero -Newcastle (ceremonial role)

[jimmylibel]

James Richardson's round of last weekend's action here is a very good summary on all that's been going on/ could happen next.

 

Unfortunately though I doubt this will be resolved before the transfer window slams shut!

[matty]

James Richardson's round of last weekend's action here is a very good summary on all that's been going on/ could happen next.

 

Unfortunately though I doubt this will be resolved before the transfer window slams shut!

 

Investigators are under real pressure to get some conclusions so the game can carry on as normal. Uefa are allowing the Italian FA to delay naming their teams for next year's European competitions, but it's unclear for how long.

 

Some are suggesting not having a league next season and coming back in 2007, but there's too much money at stake...interestingly I think if Berlusconi was still PM this might have been cleared up more hastily as his TV company stands to lose lots from the uncertainty. Seeing as Galliani is still President of the Federcalcio we might have some hasty, and not altogether correct decisions. Fortunately the Prodi government should be able to intervene to stop any shenanigans.

[Guest Kev]

The Italian teams will be granted byes to the semi-finals. Are you all seriously expecting the most corrupt league in European football to be punished ?

[Guest InExile]

Thuram - Arsenal

Del Piero -Newcastle (ceremonial role)

 

I know that no one else noticed, but that was/is funny!!

[matty]

The Italian teams will be granted byes to the semi-finals. Are you all seriously expecting the most corrupt league in European football to be punished ?

 

they have to be punished kev. there's no way in the world this will pass by without serious action. the atmosphere in Italy now is very bad. There's serious talk of not even having a league next season. I don't think it will come to that, but people are very angry and upset.

[jimmylibel]

they have to be punished kev. there's no way in the world this will pass by without serious action. the atmosphere in Italy now is very bad. There's serious talk of not even having a league next season. I don't think it will come to that, but people are very angry and upset.

 

Relegate Juve, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio... Inter still won't win the scudetto

[matty]

Relegate Juve, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio... Inter still won't win the scudetto

 

feck off.

 

 

oh,

[jimmylibel]

feck off.

oh,

 

But at the back of your mind you know it's true... so when are we going to get Matty's End of Season Serie A review/ awards then? Don't think James Richardson is doing one this year so you've a niche... and you could get in their before Figaro if you acted now.

 

See Inter have signed Dacourt and left Favalli go to Milan. Good player is Favalli.

[matty]

But at the back of your mind you know it's true... so when are we going to get Matty's End of Season Serie A review/ awards then? Don't think James Richardson is doing one this year so you've a niche... and you could get in their before Figaro if you acted now.

 

See Inter have signed Dacourt and left Favalli go to Milan. Good player is Favalli.

 

Good idea. I'll do it once I've read enough to plagiarise.

 

And Favalli was good. Hardly brings down the average age of the Milan defence does he??

[ManxRed]

Italian Businessmen? Corrupt??

 

Blimey, whatever next...?

[jimmylibel]

Good idea. I'll do it once I've read enough to plagiarise.

 

And Favalli was good. Hardly brings down the average age of the Milan defence does he??

 

Well he is younger than Maldini... he can play next to Billy Costacorta next season!

[JayKay]

And Favalli was good. Hardly brings down the average age of the Milan defence does he??

Who's gonna play left back for 'em now? They have to have somebody lined up as Wome is woeful...

[matty]

Who's gonna play left back for 'em now? They have to have somebody lined up as Wome is woeful...

 

Wome's not that bad. Saw him have a couple of crackers.

 

But yes, I think they'll be gwetting in a new LB. Maybe Zambrotta at this rate.

[jimmylibel]

Wome's not that bad. Saw him have a couple of crackers.

 

But yes, I think they'll be gwetting in a new LB. Maybe Zambrotta at this rate.

 

Wome has left too hasn't he... thought he was going to Werder Bremen or something like that.

[Guest Cardie]

Wome's not that bad. Saw him have a couple of crackers.

 

But yes, I think they'll be gwetting in a new LB. Maybe Zambrotta at this rate.

 

They already have Maxwell and the likelyhood is Grosso will follow although it seems like they're trying to use Pizzaro to tempt Roma into selling Mancini when Pizzaro was rumoured to be part of a player and cash deal for Santana, Barone and Grosso.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

A little late, but now Inter has also joined the party.

 

Inter Milan have also been dragged into the scandal after it emerged that club president Giacinto Facchetti was tipped off about which referees would officiate some of the team's games.

link.

[Guest Cardie]

So the last two scudetto's now go to Roma and Udinese.

 

At this rate Treviso will be getting a trophy.

[George Costanza]

They'll be relegating the whole of Serie A at this rate.