Post by Scott on Jul 18, 2006 0:34:32 GMT
From Bleacher Report:
Many a time, whilst sat in my plastic seat at Old Trafford football stadium, (Manchester, England) I’ve called for the referee’s head. After any game my beloved Manchester United loses, I’ll look for any excuse or way to lay blame. So, after a referee has a bad game, and doesn’t make decisions which I, through my red tinted glasses, see as plainly obvious, I will blame him. However, as much as spectators in stadiums up and down England believe that the referee is giving them an unfair time, none will feel as hard done by as fans in Italy this season, who have referees, club presidents, and chief executives to blame for their heart ache.
After Italy’s national football team were crowned Campioni del Mondo just over a week ago, their domestic league has been hit by scandal, resulting in three of the top flight teams in Serie A to be relegated, due to match fixing. Four teams were involved in this, Juventus, (last season’s champions), AC Milan (runners up), Fiorentina (fourth) Lazio (seventh), and their punishments were revealed this week. AC Milan are the only team who will not be relegated to Serie B, but will start next season on minus fifteen points. Juventus have been punished the most severely, having their last two league titles taken away from them, as well as a thirty point docking for next season, meaning a probable two seasons in Italy’s second division. All these teams cannot take part in any European Cup competition football next season either.
With thirteen players out of Italy’s twenty three man World Cup winning squad playing for these four teams, this is likely to have huge consequences on the transfer market, with several players expected to flee from their shamed teams. Capello, Juventus’ manager over the past two seasons has already left to take on the manager’s job at Real Madrid. Household names in Italy, such as Nedved, Nesta, Gattuso and Inzaghi have all been linked to moves to other leagues, to play for teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid. This, hypothetically, could change the status of Italian football for years to come. These clubs have been embarrassed on a worldwide scale, and the Italian league has been shown to be corrupt. Which world class player, in the near future, is going to choose to play for a team who will have the stigma of cheated success?
The punishment does not end here though, and what will add to the vicious circle of their situation, is the loss of television revenue and sponsorship deals. Of course there is not as much television coverage of non-top league matches or no outings in the European Cup, and can a Serie B team charge as much for a ticket to attend the games as a Serie A team? If players can get past the shame of joining the Italian league, (which, in an increasingly soulless sporting world, this can be expected of some stars) will these relegated teams be able to afford the celebrity footballer’s wages?
Sadly, the bottom line is that corruption exists in football, whether it's on a public scale, such as this, or not. Primarily since the 1990s, it has become such a money orientated game and this has only accelerated over the past few years. Teams such as Chelsea or Real Madrid have the money to buy whoever they like, for the most part, to manage or play for their teams. “Tapping up” scandals occur with a greater frequency than we could probably imagine, with money doing the talking, rather than passion for their club or sport. Is it any surprise then that money influences who wins matches, and therefore, that money is deciding, unfairly, which teams are crowned Champions?
These Italian teams have been condemned for their actions, and rightly so, but I would not be too surprised if this is the first of many cases to follow. Whether we know about them or not depends on the craftiness of those carrying out the poor sportsmanship and cheating. Juventus have clearly shown this method works, with back to back titles over the past two seasons. Are they paving the way for future poor behaviour? Or will their condemnation serve to stamp corruption out of the game? I hope it's the latter, and I hope something, whether it is this case or not, shakes up football and wakes the players, officials and fans up. Makes people realise what is at stake here. The future of Italian football has been decided, at least for now. The future of our sport dares it's supporters with what it's destiny will be.
www.bleacherreport.com/sys/content/view/263/63/
Many a time, whilst sat in my plastic seat at Old Trafford football stadium, (Manchester, England) I’ve called for the referee’s head. After any game my beloved Manchester United loses, I’ll look for any excuse or way to lay blame. So, after a referee has a bad game, and doesn’t make decisions which I, through my red tinted glasses, see as plainly obvious, I will blame him. However, as much as spectators in stadiums up and down England believe that the referee is giving them an unfair time, none will feel as hard done by as fans in Italy this season, who have referees, club presidents, and chief executives to blame for their heart ache.
After Italy’s national football team were crowned Campioni del Mondo just over a week ago, their domestic league has been hit by scandal, resulting in three of the top flight teams in Serie A to be relegated, due to match fixing. Four teams were involved in this, Juventus, (last season’s champions), AC Milan (runners up), Fiorentina (fourth) Lazio (seventh), and their punishments were revealed this week. AC Milan are the only team who will not be relegated to Serie B, but will start next season on minus fifteen points. Juventus have been punished the most severely, having their last two league titles taken away from them, as well as a thirty point docking for next season, meaning a probable two seasons in Italy’s second division. All these teams cannot take part in any European Cup competition football next season either.
With thirteen players out of Italy’s twenty three man World Cup winning squad playing for these four teams, this is likely to have huge consequences on the transfer market, with several players expected to flee from their shamed teams. Capello, Juventus’ manager over the past two seasons has already left to take on the manager’s job at Real Madrid. Household names in Italy, such as Nedved, Nesta, Gattuso and Inzaghi have all been linked to moves to other leagues, to play for teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid. This, hypothetically, could change the status of Italian football for years to come. These clubs have been embarrassed on a worldwide scale, and the Italian league has been shown to be corrupt. Which world class player, in the near future, is going to choose to play for a team who will have the stigma of cheated success?
The punishment does not end here though, and what will add to the vicious circle of their situation, is the loss of television revenue and sponsorship deals. Of course there is not as much television coverage of non-top league matches or no outings in the European Cup, and can a Serie B team charge as much for a ticket to attend the games as a Serie A team? If players can get past the shame of joining the Italian league, (which, in an increasingly soulless sporting world, this can be expected of some stars) will these relegated teams be able to afford the celebrity footballer’s wages?
Sadly, the bottom line is that corruption exists in football, whether it's on a public scale, such as this, or not. Primarily since the 1990s, it has become such a money orientated game and this has only accelerated over the past few years. Teams such as Chelsea or Real Madrid have the money to buy whoever they like, for the most part, to manage or play for their teams. “Tapping up” scandals occur with a greater frequency than we could probably imagine, with money doing the talking, rather than passion for their club or sport. Is it any surprise then that money influences who wins matches, and therefore, that money is deciding, unfairly, which teams are crowned Champions?
These Italian teams have been condemned for their actions, and rightly so, but I would not be too surprised if this is the first of many cases to follow. Whether we know about them or not depends on the craftiness of those carrying out the poor sportsmanship and cheating. Juventus have clearly shown this method works, with back to back titles over the past two seasons. Are they paving the way for future poor behaviour? Or will their condemnation serve to stamp corruption out of the game? I hope it's the latter, and I hope something, whether it is this case or not, shakes up football and wakes the players, officials and fans up. Makes people realise what is at stake here. The future of Italian football has been decided, at least for now. The future of our sport dares it's supporters with what it's destiny will be.
www.bleacherreport.com/sys/content/view/263/63/
