Lega Serie A – General Discussion

[RomaShield27]

www.football365.com – Posted 17/09/08 16:53EmailPrintSave

Supporters of Roma, Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta have been barred from travelling to upcoming Serie A matches after a committee imposed stricter measures on the distribution of tickets to away fans.

The government-appointed committee, established to analyse safety at sporting events in Italy, has banned Roma fans from going to Genoa on September 24, while Atalanta supporters will be unable to attend the Roma game at Stadio Olimpico four days later.

Likewise, Napoli fans cannot watch their side at Bologna on September 28 while Juventus fans are barred from the match at Cagliari.

The tickets for away sections at each of these games will instead be given to families and children. The committee also ruled that spectators will only be allowed to buy a single ticket for the Milan derby on September 28.

The new committee was established at the end of August in response to the Italian football authorities' declaration that the hooliganism which marred the opening weekend of Serie A fixtures would not be repeated.

[RomaShield27]

Italy's Serie A nudges towards breakaway
www.guardian.co.uk – Reuters – Tuesday October 7 2008

MILAN, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Italy's top flight Serie A could breakaway from the second division Serie B and form a Super League, officials have warned. Club chairmen from the two divisions, which make up the Italian league, have been meeting this week to see how much money Serie A should hand down to Serie B.

Serie B clubs have struggled in recent years because of falling attendances and the lack of a television deal last season.

"Behind this there are projects grander than us like a Super League and the changing of the rules for TV," league president Antonio Matarrese told reporters.

England's Premiershit broke away from three other divisions in the old Football League in the early 1990s and has prospered thanks to its own television deals.

Serie A has watched with envy as the Premiershit has gone from strength to strength.

"The day has arrived. The league is 20 years behind and we cannot lose any more time," the president of Serie A's Cagliari Massimo Cellino was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "Serie A is separating from B."

Serie A have offered 65 million euros ($88.3 million) to Serie B for this season but the second tier is widely expected to refuse the offer at a meeting later in the week. Some Serie A officials have suggested not paying Serie B anything.

[Messinterista]

Serie A to breakaway - Italian top-flight to follow Premiershit example

Italy's top-flight is set to follow the example of the Premiershit in England by breaking away from the other divisions.

Serie A and Serie B clubs have never seen eye to eye on money when it comes to deciding television rights.

The two divisions make up the Italian League and the chairmen of each club have been meeting this week to try and broker a deal.

But Serie B is set to reject an offer of nearly £40million for television rights from their Serie A counterparts; a decision that is set to hasten the split.

Serie A clubs have seen how profitable a breakaway can be, with the Premiershit now the most lucrative domestic competition in the world.

"The day has arrived. The league is 20 years behind and we cannot lose any more time," the president of Serie A's Cagliari Massimo Cellino was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Serie A is separating from B."

Source: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 40,00.html

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Mediaset deal in Italy
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind ... 89370.html – Monday 22 December 2008

UEFA has concluded a UEFA Champions League media rights deal in Italy with Mediaset. This news follows the recent announcement by UEFA of the award of media rights in Italy to Rai and Sky Italia.

Comprehensive package
Mediaset's pay DTT operation has won a comprehensive package of rights including coverage of all live matches (including the UEFA Champions League final and the UEFA Super Cup) to be shown on its Mediaset Premium DTT platform. The broadcaster will also show highlights programmes on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Highly-regarded partner
"UEFA is extremely pleased to announce this deal with Mediaset who have been a highly-regarded partner of UEFA since the beginning of the UEFA Champions League," said UEFA on Monday. "Their involvement in the next cycle of media rights will contribute significantly to a tremendous exposure for the competition in Italy." TEAM Marketing AG is the exclusive marketing agent of UEFA for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Europa League.

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[RomaShield27]

Roberto Rosetti named the world’s best referee
07/01/2009 – http://www.imscouting.com/global_news_item.aspx?id=1021

Italian referee Roberto Rosetti has been named the world’s top referee for 2008 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. The IFFHS announced the findings with Rosetti taking the prize with 204 points compared to 126 for second-placed Lubos Michel of Slovakia. Frank De Bleeckere of Belgium came third with just 61 points, followed by Germany’s Herbert Fandel on 60.

A year ago, Rosetti came in fifth place with 55 points. Former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina dominated this list when he was still in action, winning the yearly vote for six years in a row.

Rosetti refereed the UEFA Champions League semi-final last year between Chelsea and Liverfekkin'wankscum at Stamford Bridge and was widely praised for his handling of the game. He also handled the final of Euro 2008 between Germany and Spain.

[Carlo Romano]

[RomaShield27]

[Carlo Romano]

You're makin' me drool, Shield...

Rosina in our magica Roma...I wish! He must realise by now he can't stay where he is too much longer, he's international class and it could cost him dear by not making a move away!

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Away fans banned from four games
Wednesday 14 January, 2009 – http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... an14m.html

Away fans will be barred from attending four upcoming Serie A games, including Napoli-Roma, Milan-Genoa and Juventus-Fiorentina. The Casms – the committee set up to evaluate and prevent crowd trouble at sporting events – has passed its verdict on four at-risk encounters.

Juventus-Fiorentina on January 24 is the focus of intense rivalry between these sides and so it is considered safer to sell only one ticket per person which cannot be transferred to anyone else’s name.

Napoli-Roma on January 25 is the Derby del Sud and Giallorossi supporters will not be allowed to travel to the game. It was the meeting between these clubs at the Stadio Olimpico in Week 1 that sparked the clampdown on travelling fans after Napoli ultras caused thousands of pounds worth of damage on the train. Fiorentina-Napoli will also see the away end closed on January 28, while Milan-Genoa is blocked off that same weekend.


This is not the way to solve crowd trouble...

[Carlo Romano]

Well let's hope we give i granata even more reason to maintain a press silence after Sunday...if we're to make Spalletti's wish of 4'th CL place become reality then we need the points more than the little bull!

[RomaShield27]

GENOA TRY TO STAY GROUNDED
www.sportinglife.com

Genoa coach Gian Pieri Gasperini insists his side are keeping their feet on the ground and that nobody is getting carried away with their rise to fourth in the Serie A table at the midway stage of the season. The Rossoblu host Catania on Sunday looking to cement their place in the top four ahead of a gruelling schedule of fixtures. Next Wednesday, they travel to AC Milan before trips to Roma, Napoli and home games against Fiorentina, Palermo and Inter Milan.

Over the next six weeks, they will learn if they are true contenders for a place in the Champions League next season, but Gasperini, who received the compliments of Inter coach Jose Mourinho and Argentinian legend Maradona recently, denies feeling increased pressure.

"There is no risk of us getting scared of heights," he said. "We know full well what challenges lie ahead in a league like this and it is going to be hard confirming ourselves, but if we are up there, then we must have done something good.

"Furthermore, it is not as if we have to reach a certain objective at all costs. "The compliments we have received have motivated us and we are grateful. "But I don't see anybody dropping their guard or getting big-headed. We are fourth and we want to stay there."

Genoa have won seven and drawn two of their nine home games so far this season. If you include a derby win over Sampdoria while official guests at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, their form in front of their own fans has been impeccable and Gasperini hopes this record can continue right up to the end of the campaign.

"We have got to make home advantage count in the second half of the season too," he proclaimed. "We have three big games in eight days and we have got to call on all our strength and courage."

The key to Genoa's impressive season had been the form of striker Diego Milito. He scored 12 goals in the first 16 games of the season, but has not figured in any of the last three matches due to injury. Genoa have won all three of those games without the Argentinian, which reduces the pressure on Gasperini rushing him back into action.

"I am quite confident he will play because he has trained well in recent days, but he will only do so if he is feeling well," he confirmed. "We will monitor him over the next few hours and he will play if possible."

Catania coach Walter Zenga will have to follow proceedings from the directors' box after being sent off during the defeat to Bologna last weekend. However, he does not feel this will be too big a disadvantage and he plans on sitting in the stands more often in future.

"At least that would be a way not to be sent off in future even if, and I repeat, I did not insult the referee and I never have done," he said. "I would like to lead Catania from the stands and I will ask the club what they think. "You can see the game better from up there and I have already experimented with it in Romania."

[RomaShield27]

BOLOGNA EDGE CLEAR
www.sportinglife.com – 28/1/09

Bologna moved five points clear of the Serie A drop zone with a 1-0 victory at Atalanta.

Sergio Volpi drilled a long-range free-kick into the bottom corner 10 minutes from time as the Rossoblu returned to winning ways following last weekend's 4-1 defeat to AC Milan.

The home hammering by Carlo Ancelotti's men ended a run of nine games without defeat for Bologna and marked coach Sinisa Mihajlovic's first loss since taking charge in November.

The visitors seemed keen to put the Milan mauling behind them from the outset and forced the first save of the game in the fourth minute.

Atalanta goalkeeper Ferdinando Coppola pulled off a fine save to deny Francesco Valiani from close range.

Six minutes later the hosts mustered their first chance when Adriano Ferreira Pinto found space for a shot from the edge of the area but his effort flew just wide of Francesco Antonioli's right-hand upright.

Bologna striker Marco di Vaio missed out on a 16th league goal of the campaign on the quarter-hour mark when he failed to find the target despite the goal gaping when Coppola failed to catch a routine cross.

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo then tried to turn provider for Di Vaio with a neat back-heel but Serie A's top scorer could not capitalise from close range.

Luca Cigarini was equally profligate at the other end in the 32nd minute, prodding wide from Sergio Floccari's pass.

Coppola saved well from the edge of the box moments later from Osvaldo as the action continued to switch from end to end at pace.

The home team should have gone ahead five minutes before half-time. Floccari found Gyorgy Garics, and the Hungary international supplied Cristiano Doni in the middle of Bologna area but the Atalanta captain struck his low effort wide of the left post.

Three minutes later Diego Rodriguez lashed a 25-yard volley wide of Coppola's goal as the sides went in at the break on level terms.

Atalanta began the second half brightly and were unfortunate not to go ahead four minutes in when Floccari's fierce shot smashed against the crossbar and to safety.

Cigarini's attempt looked destined for the bottom-right corner but Antonioli parried, and then Floccari burst into the box with menace only to fire over the bar.

Coppola's uncertainty from crosses continued to give Bologna hope, but Di Vaio again failed to capitalise midway through the second period.

Di Vaio then fed Osvaldo but the Argentinian slotted wide from 20 yards.

Just when it seemed the breakthrough would not come, the deadlock was finally broken in the 80th minute.

Volpi's sweetly-struck free-kick from 30 yards found its way past Coppola for what proved to be the decisive goal and condemn the Bergamaschi to only a third Serie A defeat at their Stadio Atleti Azzurri D'Italia home.

The hosts did produce a couple of late opportunities to equalise in the closing minutes, but could not find a way past Antonioli.

First Doni's shot from distance was kept out by the Bologna stopper, and then Gianpaolo Bellini found himself well placed in the last minute but stumbled at the vital moment.

[Carlo Romano]

[Carlo Romano]

[Carlo Romano]

[Pauly W. Nuts]

I saw this game and I happen to think that it was very intertaining. There were numerous mistakes (on both sides), but that is what made it so intertaining for me.

Both teams had chances to score more than the result would suggest, but yes, I think that Napoli dodged a big bullet because Bologna could have easily scored more goals. The fact that DiVaio scored his 1st goal in Napoli's stadium was a surprise.

I truly feel fad for Napoli's tifosi, since at one point a couple of months ago they were in such a high. But yes, the way things are looking for Napoli right now, it would be unfortunate to see their coach get hacked.

[Carlo Romano]

Pauly, yeah, it was an enjoyable game to watch and as a southerner my heart was with the partenopei but what became so obvious to me was the way the Napoli players' heads went down when DiVaio scored the Bologna equaliser...it's as much a psychological thing as a form loss.

That aside, they must address their defensive problems and make their attacking talent really count...when they really started going for it in the final minutes last night they were too much effort and not enough thought.

For the benefit of our Toscani members I'll say Bologna were well worth their draw and more...