Lega Serie A – General Discussion

[Jocksboy]

Yes, he's had a pretty good season and has been instrumental in Bologna's recent run of form.

Week 37 Top Five:
1. Milito (Inter 8.14
2. Miccoli (Palermo) 8.00
3. Giovinco (Parma) 7.71
4. M. Rigoni (Novara) 7.50
5. Cana (Lazio) 7.43

[RomaShield27]

Remarkable amount of great players leaving/retiring today. Final Serie A appearances for Nesta, Inzaghi, Seedorf, Gatusso, Zambrotta, Van Bommel, The Waterboy, Di Vaio, Cordoba, Kaladze. Thats quite the lot. Obviously some are legends like Nesta, Pippo etc., and some are bums we'll be glad to see the back off, such as Van Bommel, and The Waterboy.

[Jocksboy]

Week 38 Top Five:
1. The Waterboy (Juventus) 7.79
2. Inzaghi (Milan) 7.79
3. Dossena (Napoli) 7.29
4. Gattuso (Milan) 7.21
5. Puggioni (Chievo) 7.14

Top Five for the season:
1. Pirlo (Juventus) 6.60
2. Giovinco (Parma) 6.50
3. Ibrahimovic (Milan) 6.48
4. Di Natale (Udinese) 6.48
5. Diamanti (Bologna) 6.43

[RomaShield27]

Is Italian football more corrupt, or do they just get caught more often?

Italy's judiciary has the power to be proactive in seeking out possible wrongdoing, which is not the case in Britain

John Foot/ www.guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 29 May 2012 12.54 BST

As police teams swoop on the training team of the Italian national football team and the Squadra Azzura threatens to be engulfed by yet another betting scandal, it's worth remembering the events of 1980. Back then, Italian football was shocked by a match-fixing scandal of even more devastating proportions. Players were arrested in dressing rooms across the country. Some of those involved were extremely famous, such as the striker Paolo Rossi. Those found guilty were given long bans, although in the absence of laws about sporting fraud, the subsequent court case saw most of the protagonists cleared. Fans and journalists were scandalised, but then 1982 came around, Italy won the World Cup (with Rossi as top scorer and national hero) and 1980 was quickly forgotten.

Over the next two decades, as TV money poured into the game, Italy's Serie A went on to become the richest league in the world. All the top stars played there, from Maradona to Platini to Gascoigne to Van Basten, and Italy's top teams regularly won the European Cup and then the Champions League. But the rot had set in even as the cash was stacking up. Financial management was often lax (numerous clubs went bankrupt, including Napoli, Bologna and Fiorentina) and dodgy transfers were the order of the day. Violent fans controlled large parts of each stadium, and were often linked to organised crime.

Meanwhile, a system of power developed at the heart of the game which controlled the transfer market, the referees and their selection, eliminating any risk of losing. This system came crashing down in 2006 thanks to the work of magistrates in Naples, and led to the relegation of Italy's best supported club, Juventus.

A clean-out of sorts then took place, with the resignation of most of those in charge of the game. But it wasn't enough. Today it looks like the Italian game has failed to learn the lessons of the scandal that took place only five years ago. A match-fixing ring of jaw-dropping proportions has been unmasked by magistrates in Cremona, Bari and (again) in Naples. Some players are said to have already confessed to their crimes, and the number of clubs involved is, by now, well over 20 (with more to come). It appears that large sums of money have been offered to players to throw games, and that many have accepted. Juventus's current manager, fresh from winning the championship, is also under investigation for his activities at his previous club, Siena. All this is having a destabilising effect on the national team's preparations for the European Championships, and one player has already had to withdraw from the squad.

Why is Italian football in so much trouble? One, easy answer is simply to point to Italian society as a whole. Hardly a day goes by without a corruption scandal hitting the world of politics in Italy, so why should football be any different? This is, in part, true. Let us also remember the baleful influence of a series of men without scruples who have been allowed to influence the national game: Silvio Berlusconi, Luciano Moggi, Luciano Gaucci.

But we should also take one other key factor into consideration: the power and independence of the Italian judiciary. Italian magistrates have the ability to set up phone taps and run long investigations into scandals of this kind. They are also proactive in seeking out possible wrongdoing and can order arrests and offer deals to those who confess. British police, for example, are much weaker and less interested in football-linked corruption. Illegal betting is an issue for every sport in today's globalised world, and has been for many years (in cricket above all, but also in numerous other sports including football). Italy is different, but we should not be complacent. What if the difference between Italian and British football is that people just get on with it over here, with no fear of being caught?

[Bagg10]

http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2 ... /?ref=fblc

Jesus. DDR is right. Calcioscommesse is way worse than calciopoli.

[RomaShield27]

Big time. Calciopoli was greedy corrupt club suits, this calcioscommesse is about the players. Not just the players, mind, clearly there are mafioso types involved, but the players are a fundamental part. You have to wonder what goes through a players mind when in these situations and talk of fixing a result is brought up. Why would they go along with it? Surely they don't need the money? Pity there weren't more players to make a stand and come out publicly against it.

[Bagg10]

I think these "Gypsies" are backed by the mafia. The problem is that when players are approached they're told(not asked) to help or at the very least not interfere with their operations. These players don't have much of a choice. It's not like they can out these people because then their family's and their own well being is put in danger. So some players may think, fuck it, if i'm going to get in trouble no matter what I do, I might as well make money off of it. I'm just speculating here though, much like the majority of Italian newspapers. I agree with Abete, though. Suspending Calcio for even a decade won't change anything. This issue is much deeper than football. It's a deep-rooted problem of Italy as a nation.

[Bagg10]

NAZIONALE E SCOMMESSE
Buffon: "Vergogna, un blitz annunciato"

Il portiere azzurro parla del momento che sta vivendo la nazionale e il calcio italiano: "Alle parole di Monti non rispondo, ci ha già pensato il presidente Abete". Sull'irruzione della polizia a Coverciano: "Ci sono delle operazioni giudiziarie, e voi lo sapete tre o quattro mesi prima"

COVERCIANO - C'è l'Europeo alle porte, ma la bufera del calcioscommesse tiene banco nel ritiro degli azzurri. Gianluigi Buffon, più che parlare dell'esordio con la Spagna o del test con la Russia, si sofferma sulle parole del premier Monti, che ha parlato di sospensione del calcio: "Non mi permetto di proferire verbo sulla questione. Parliamo sempre del presidente del Consiglio, la nostra massima autorità, sicuramente una persona capace e di buon senso. La risposta migliore, che è poi quella vera, l'ha data il presidente della Federcalcio (Abete, ndr)".

Buffon è anche tornato sulle recenti esternazioni sulla possibilità che nelle ultime giornate di campionato vi possa essere in campo un tacito accordo tra due squadre per raggiungere un obiettivo ("Meglio due feriti che un morto"). Buffon ha sottolineato che "non posso dire quello che realmente cuore e mente pensino. Ho avuto l'ennesima conferma che alla fine le persone con la coscienza a posto e senza scheletri nell'armadio non possono esprimere il proprio pensiero. Credo che la prima cosa da preservare sia la democrazia, la libertà: per questo poi accetto le critiche e mi prendo le responsabilità, però dispiace sentire poi da voi (i giornalisti, ndr) delle paternali. Se per quelle frasi sarò ascoltato in Procura? Non lo so, il brutto è che le cose si apprendono sempre dai media e giorni prima".

"Dopo anni che ho vinto uno scudetto, ora si parla di campionato virtuale... Si parla di cose del passato, quest'anno è stato un campionato senza ombre. Quando uno sbaglia è giusto che paghi, visto e considerato che di mezzo c'è il valore della lealtà, le pene devono essere esemplari. Poi però bisogna fare delle distinzioni tra colpe molto gravi e relative, senza mettere tutto nel calderone". Sulle questione del tecnico bianconero Conte: "Non temo di perdere Conte, è un'eventualità che non ho nemmeno preso in considerazione. Da quello che ho letto e sentito dire da lui e dal nostro presidente (Andrea Agnelli, ndr), le accuse che gli sono state rivolte non sono così forti".

"Ho fiducia che i pm facciano giustizia. Non c'è niente di peggio che giocare o speculare sulla vita delle persone. E lo dice uno cui hanno detto, dopo l'errore di Lecce che qualcuno pensava avessi scommesso. Se una persona è talmente maliziosa per pensare una cosa simile - prosegue Buffon - è inutile che io venga qui a parlare di morale. Ho già perso in partenza. Sono offese che ti disarmano".

Buffon è tornato anche sull'irruzione della polizia a Coverciano: "Ci sono delle operazioni giudiziarie, e voi lo sapete tre o quattro mesi prima. Uno parla con i pm e voi sapete il contenuto dieci minuti dopo: è una vergogna. Fuori da Coverciano c'erano le telecamere dalle 6 del mattino"

Quindi Buffon ha affrontato anche il tema azzurri, attesi dall'impegno Europeo: "Ci arrivo bene, con tanta
voglia di vincere, con i compagni vogliamo ritagliarci un ruolo di protagonisti. Ma se vinciamo il titolo non si dica che le polemiche fanno bene alla competizione. E' una cosa così stucchevole che fa rabbrividire".

(30 maggio 2012)


http://www.repubblica.it/speciali/calci ... /?ref=fblc

[Messinterista]

I think these "Gypsies" are backed by the mafia. The problem is that when players are approached they're told(not asked) to help or at the very least not interfere with their operations. These players don't have much of a choice. It's not like they can out these people because then their family's and their own well being is put in danger. So some players may think, fuck it, if i'm going to get in trouble no matter what I do, I might as well make money off of it. I'm just speculating here though, much like the majority of Italian newspapers. I agree with Abete, though. Suspending Calcio for even a decade won't change anything. This issue is much deeper than football. It's a deep-rooted problem of Italy as a nation.

Look who was running the country into the ground these past 10 odd years. If only he'd do the same with his football club.

[RomaShield27]

Great site here for buying old school Italian club jerseys. Loads of them:

Serie A: http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/ ... clubs.html

Serie B: http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/ ... clubs.html

[Marco_Italia]

Anyone know what is happening with the new Cagliari stadium? Probably the worst stadium in Serie A, surely they won't be playing in Trieste next season again! :O

Last i heard about the Karalis (spelling) arena, is that it was supposed to be ready for 13/14.

[RomaShield27]

I think its fairly certain they won't be returning to the Sant'Elia, anyway. What a shithole. According to Wiki they'll be playing their home games next season just outside of Cagliari at the Stadio Comunale Is Arenas in Quartu Sant'Elena (the third biggest city in Sardinia).

This site - http://www.stadiumguide.com/karalisarena/ - has some info about the Karalis Arena, but like most plans for new stadio's in Italia, it seems to be on hold for now.

[Marco_Italia]

Ah right cheers Roma Shield.

Embarassing that a Serie A club can let their stadium get into such a state! :S

[Marco_Italia]

Ah right cheers Roma Shield.

Embarassing that a Serie A club can let their stadium get into such a state! :S

[Bagg10]

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peo ... 49902.html

[RomaShield27]

Gazzetta CALENDARIO_SERIE_A_TIM_2012-2013 pdf

http://media2.gazzetta.it/gazzetta/pdf/ ... 2-2013.pdf

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http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio ... lcio+-+Tim

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Individual downloadable club fixtures charts here:

http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action= ... _calendari

[Messinterista]

Official: 10 months for Conte

Antonio Conte has been handed an initial 10-month ban from the Disciplinary Commission, but Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe are acquitted.

Meanwhile, Lecce and Grosseto have been relegated to Lega Pro for their alleged direct involvement in fixing matches for betting profits.

Conte is alleged to have known about two attempted match fixes during the 2010-11 season when he was in charge of Siena.

His original plea bargain of a three-month suspension and €200,000 fine was rejected by the Commission and he could not agree terms on a new plea bargain, so opted to take it to trial.

Subsequently, the Commission have handed him a 10-month suspension from the game, up to June 9, 2013. This was five months less than the figure prosecutor Stefano Palazzi had suggested and Conte can appeal the ruling on August 20 in front of the Federal Court of Justice.

Conte’s assistant Coach Angelo Alessio has been handed an eight-month ban.

However, it is better news for Juve’s Bonucci and Pepe, as the Commission acquitted them of all charges because of inconsistencies found in the testimonial of Andrea Masiello. The current Atalanta player had alleged Bonucci’s direct involvement and Pepe’s knowledge of the attempted fix of Bari’s May 2010 match against Udinese, with Bonucci initially facing a three-year, six-month suspension and Pepe a one-year ban.

The Commission has also acquitted Udinese, Marco Di Vaio, Salvatore Masiello, Daniele Padelli, Giuseppe Vives and Nicola Belmonte of charges in this case, but Belmonte still faces six months out for charges relating to his alleged involvement in a Cesena-Bari fix.

Elsewhere, Lecce, who were relegated last season on the field in Serie A, have been demoted to the Lega Pro alongside Grosseto. The Salentini will also be given a €30,000 fine and six-point penalty to begin 2012-13 with, and Grosseto a three-point penalty.

Grosseto’s President Piero Camilli and Lecce’s former President Giovanni Semeraro have both been handed five-year bans too, for the belief that they knew about attempted fixes involving their teams.

Bologna have been handed a €30,000 fine and Ancona a €10,000 fine, whilst Novara must begin their Serie B campaign on -2 points.

All those with sentences can launch an appeal in front of the Federal Court of Justice on August 20, six days before the Serie A campaign is due to begin.

There were also numerous plea bargains during the course of the week. Among the clubs are Siena (-6 points and €100,000 fine), Bari (-5 and €80,000), Albinoleffe, Sampdoria, Torino and Varese (all -1 and €30,000) and Portogruaro (€5,000).

Among the players and individuals to take plea bargains are sporting director Angelozzi (four months), Bentivoglio (13 months), Carobbio (six months added to the previous 20 months), Da Costa (three months and €30,000), D’Urbano (five months and 10 days), Esposito (three months and 10 days), Faggiano (four months) and Garlini (nine months added to the previous three years).

Also with plea bargains are Gervasoni (four months added to the previous six years and eight months with proposed lifetime ban), Larrondo (three months, 20 days and €30,000), Andrea Masiello (two years, two months and €30,000), Mutti (four months), Parisi (two years and €10,000), Passoni (six months and 15 days added to the previous 14 months), Poloni (six months added to the previous 12 months), Marco Rossi (20 months and €20,000), Sala (two years), Sanfelice (four months), Savorani (five months and 10 days), Stellini (two years, six months and €50,000).

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/22814/of ... nths-conte

[RomaShield27]

Check out the PL 2012/2013 Registration Thread and sign up for the new season of the Prediction League, always a good laugh, plus some special prizes on offer for the winner.

And make your Picks for the 2012-2013 season.

[Messinterista]

Serie A approves 12-man benches

Serie A teams will be allowed to have 12 players on the bench from this season, announced the FIGC.

The change in rules was confirmed by the Federation after a request from the Lega Serie A and President Maurizio Beretta.

This gives clubs the opportunity to hand a list of 23 players to the referee before a match in Serie A, the Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup or Primavera youth league.

“This decision for the ‘long bench’ is something I have always fought for and finally we achieved it,” said Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini.

“It is a choice dictated by common sense and it’s about time we got here. This way we will no longer have frustrated players, as all of them will feel involved in the match.

“Just look at Palermo. We have two players for every role, so we can only benefit from this new development.”

Roma boss Zdenek Zeman is more ‘old school’ about having seven players on the bench.

“It doesn’t change much for me, as in my experience a total squad of 18 is sufficient.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/23673/se ... an-benches

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I think its a bit much.

[RomaShield27]

12-man bench, it just seems a bit strange doesn't it? You can still only make three subs so dont really see the point of it, 7 should be enough.