Palermo sign duo on loan

February 3, 2010

Serie A side Palermo have completed the signing of defender Ondrej Celustka and goalkeeper Francesco Benussi on loan.

Czech defender Celustka has moved to the Rosanero from Slavia Praha for the remainder of the season with the Italian club having an option of signing him on a permanent deal.

Slavia director general Petr Dolezal said Palermo’s final offer for the player was ‘very good’, but the exact amount to change hands was not revealed.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Benuussi has also moved to the Stadio Renzo Barbera on loan, from Lecce, until the end of the current campaign.

Palermo stopper Rubinho has gone the other way in a swap deal that is thought to have satisfied both parties.

Both players could feature in Palermo’s game against Parma on Saturday in Serie A.

Tags: A. Palermo, change hands, director general, dolezal, Francesco Benussi, game, Goalkeeper, italian club, lecce, Ondrej Celustka, Palermo, parma, Petr Dolezal, praha, remainder, Renzo Barbera, rubinho, stadio renzo barbera, swap deal

Nine arrested in Italian betting scandal

November 23, 2009

Nine people have been arrested, accused of illegal betting in Italian football, police said on Monday.

Amongst those arrested was the president of third division team Potenza, Giuseppe Postiglione and Pro Vastese sports director Luca Evangelista.

They are accused of being involved in organised crime and of sporting fraud relating to a number of bets placed on matches in the second and third divisions from 2007 to 2009.

One match under investigation is the Serie B encounter between Ravenna and Lecce on April 26, 2008, won 3-1 by the away side, on which Postiglione alledgedly placed a bet that won him 86,000 euros.

Giovanni Colangelo, the public prosecutor in Potenza, claimed match-fixing had been taking place.

If that was the case it would be the second such in Italy in the last three years, although the 2006 Calciopoli scandal involved high-profile Serie A teams and resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B and stripped of their last two league titles.

AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina were also punished for their roles in the match-fixing.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, bet, calciopoli scandal, colangelo, fiorentina, giovanni, giuseppe, high profile, italian football, league titles, lecce, luca evangelista, milan lazio, postiglione, public prosecutor, ravenna, reggina, sports director

Parma sign City´s Bojinov on loan

July 30, 2009

Serie A newboys Parma have signed Bulgaria international Valeri Bojinov from Manchester City on a one-year loan deal.

The 23-year-old striker spent two years at Eastlands but hardly played any games due to injury.

And with Sky Blues manager Mark Hughes signing strikers Emanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz this summer, his chances of first team football seemed to be diminishing.

He is familiar with Italy having started his career in Lecce and subsequently played for both Fiorentina and Juventus.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: adebayor, bulgaria, carlos tevez, CITY, Eastlands, emanuel, Emanuel Adebayor, fiorentina, Italy, juventus, lecce, loan deal, manchester city, Mark Hughes, newboys, ROME, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, sky blues, strikers, valeri bojinov

Maldini and Ancelotti set for San Siro farewell

May 24, 2009

ROME (AFP) – After 24 seasons as one of Italy’s finest defenders and AC Milan’s emblem, Paolo Maldini will play his last match at the San Siro this weekend when AS Roma are in town.

But while it has been known for some time that this game — while possibly not Maldini’s last ever in a Milan shirt as the club travels to Fiorentina next weekend for their last game of the season — will be his final bow in front of his home fans, the suggestion that it will also be coach Carlo Ancelotti’s swansong in front of the Milan faithful is more recent.

Ancelotti has been at the helm since 2001 but the voices announcing his imminent departure at the season’s end have been becomming more frequent and noisy.

It is now generally accepted in the Italian media that the 49-year-old will leave despite there being another year to run on his contract and he is widely expected to take over the reins at Chelsea in the summer.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani did nothing to dampen the rumours in midweek either when rather than confirming the club’s intent to keep Ancelotti he instead seemingly delayed announcing the inevitable.

“I hope to say something on Monday because it will mean we have achieved direct Champions League qualification,” he said.

A victory for Milan would assure them of a top three finish and direct Champions League group stage qualification next season while several other permutations, including the failure to win by either Juventus or Fiorentina at Siena and Lecce respectively, would also see Milan secure a top three spot.

But while that would seem like a good achievement by almost any other team’s standards, for the Milan hierarchy it is simply not enough.

They are waiting for a first title since 2004 and will have to hold on for at least another year after their defeat at Udinese last weekend ensured city rivals Inter Milan claimed a fourth straight Serie A crown.

If Ancelotti’s departure were to be announced after this weekend it would follow hot on the heels of Claudio Ranieri’s sacking from third-placed Juve on Monday.

Having finished third in their first season back in Serie A and being Inter’s closest challengers for most of this season, that still was not enough to placate the Juve board and likewise Ancelotti’s continued inability to spark a title challenge down to the wire almost certainly will see him shown the door.

It would thus be a bitter sweet day in Milan with one hero being celebrated and applauded into retirement from a glorious playing career while another hero — Ancelotti was a hugely successful player at Milan before also winning two Champions League crowns as a coach — faces the inglorious prospect of being fired.

If the rumours are true, though, it could even be seen as a career move with a higher salary expected at Chelsea and a new league to add to his CV.

As Inter are already champions it is only the minor issues that still need to be decided in Serie A.

Two from Milan, Juve and Fiorentina will join Inter in the top three this season and next season’s Champions League group stages.

Either Fiorentina or Genoa could finish fourth and thus play Champions League qualifiers next season while thwo from Torino, Bologna and Lecce will join already relegated Reggina in Serie B.

And finally there is UEFA Europa League qualification to be sorted. Lazio already have one spot having won the Italian Cup.

Fiorentina or Genoa will take a second while Roma, Palermo or Udinese will battle for the final berth.

Fixtures:

Sunday

AC Milan v AS Roma, Atalanta v Palermo, Cagliari v Inter Milan, Catania v Napoli, Chievo v Bologna, Lecce v Fiorentina, Sampdoria v Udinese, Siena v Juventus, Torino v Genoa

Played Wednesday

Lazio 1 (Zarate 26) Reggina 0

Tags: A. Two, ac milan, adriano, adriano galliani, Bologna, carlo ancelotti, catania, champions league group, CHELSEA, city rivals, Claudio Ranieri, fiorentina, genoa, group stage, home fans, hot on the heels, imminent departure, inter milan, italian media, Italy, juve, juventus, last game, lazio, lecce, midweek, Milan, napoli, Palermo, paolo maldini, permutations, ranie, Roma, ROME, San, san siro, Serie A, swansong, udinese

Ranieri sacked by demanding Juve

May 19, 2009

Just three years ago Juve were facing up to the fact they’d be playing in Serie B after being found guilty of match-fixing.

Now, they sit third in Serie A with two games to go but that is not good enough for the Old Lady of Turin. The risk they might miss out on an automatic Champions League spot was too great.

Claudio Ranieri has been sacked despite doing wonders last term when they comfortably finished third.

His team beat Real Madrid home and away this season in the Champions League and they reached the Italian Cup semi-finals.

Juve have been riddled with injuries, Alessandro Del Piero suddenly stopped scoring at the turn of the year yet the run of seven league games without a win is deemed as Ranieri’s fault.

Like when he was dumped by Chelsea, Ranieri has carried himself with great dignity through recent weeks when the media and most of his own fans were calling for his head.

But at Italy’s biggest supported club and the most successful domestically, there is no place to hide.

PHOTO: Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri looks on during thier Italian Serie A soccer match against Lecce at the Olympic stadium in Turin, May 3, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

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Tags: Alessandro Del Piero, alessandro garofalo, champions league, CHELSEA, Claudio Ranieri, coach claudio, dignity, italian cup, italian serie a soccer, Italy, juve, juventus, league games, lecce, MADRID, madrid home, match, Old, old lady, Olympic, olympic stadium, Photo, photo juventus, reuters, semi finals, Serie A, serie a soccer, turin, two games

Appeal court reverses Juve fan ban

May 1, 2009

ROME (AFP) – The Italian Olympic Committee’s (Coni) appeal court on Thursday overturned a sanction imposed against Juventus after a section of their fans racially abused Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli.

The Italian Football League had ordered Juve to play their next home league match, against Lecce on Sunday, behind closed doors as punishment for their failure to react to the racist chanting during the 1-1 draw earlier this month.

Juventus appealed and after Italy’s Federal Court of Justice upheld the ban, they took it to the High Court, claiming that the sanction was too harsh.

Balotelli, 18, whose parents are Ghanaian but who was raised in Italy, was abused by some home fans after they became irritated with his on-field behaviour.

Juve may yet have to play a game behind closed doors as the High Court will review the case on May 15 before making a final decision.

Tags: appeal court, balotelli, closed doors, court of justice, final decision, home fans, inter milan, Italian, italian football league, italian olympic committee, Italy, juventus, lecce, mario, Mario Balotelli, match, Milan, next home, Olympic, punishment, racist, ROME, sanction, Serie A, striker

Ranieri vows to take players off if racist fans chant

April 22, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri insisted he would order his players off the pitch if there is a repeat of the racist chanting that was directed at Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli last weekend.

Juve have been hit with a supporters ban for their next home match against Lecce after Italian football authorities acted swiftly to the racist chants at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, although the club have appealed that decision.

And speaking to La Repubblica, Ranieri said he would take action himself next time.

“I will call over (Alessandro) Del Piero, our captain, and the captain of the other team and the fourth pofficial, we’ll talk it over and we’ll take the only possible decision, to stop the match,” he said when asked what he would do if such chants were repeated.

“Before that we will try another measure by going to the stand from where the chants are emanating and try to get across to the fans with gestures and with words that it would be better to stop.”

Ranieri said that this was not a problem unique to Juventus, though, claiming that it was a “typical Italian vice”.

“It is a national, social problem, not only a football one,” he added. “I’m very disappointed about what happened but as a coach with grey hair all I can say is, avoid certain behaviour.”

That last comment was a clear reference to Balotelli who irked the Juventus faithful with his controversial on-field behaviour during the match.

Many people have since accused him of inciting the wrath of the fans, who subsequently racially abused him.

Tags: Alessandro Del Piero, chants, Claudio Ranieri, coach claudio, Del Piero, gestures, grey hair, home match, inter milan, italian football, juve, juventus, la repubblica, lecce, Mario Balotelli, Milan, next home, pitch, racist, ROME, Serie A, stadio olimpico, turin, wrath

Juventus punished for racist abuse

April 21, 2009

ROME, April 20, 2009 (AFP) – Juventus will have to play a match behind closed doors as punishment for the racist chanting a section of their fans directed at Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli.

The teenage Italian under-21 international forward, whose parents are Ghanaian immigrants, was subjected to racist chanting during Saturday’s 1-1 draw between the two clubs in Juve’s Stadio Olimpico, a game in which Balotelli scored.

However, he incurred the wrath of the Juve faithful for his part in the sending off of Portuguese midfielder Tiago, who kicked out at Balotelli and Ghana midfielder Muntari Sulley after they played keep-ball on the touchline during the match.

Fans will be barred for the visit of Lecce to Turin on May 3.

Juventus were quick to condemn the fans who abused Balotelli but sports judge Gianpaolo Tosel said the club should have done more to prevent the chants.

“There was an absence of any protests from other fans to disassociate themselves (from the racism) or of any dissuasive intervention on the part of the club,” he said.

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli had previously condemned the chants.

“On behalf of Juventus and the great majority of our fans I want to strongly condemn the racist chanting against Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli,” he said in a statement.

“There are no excuses or justification for this type of behaviour. Football fans can get hot up but episodes such as this are inexcusable.

“Together we must all try to promote a sporting culture that puts respect for the adversary at its core and fights against racism.”

Tags: adversary, balotelli, chants, closed doors, ghana, gianpaolo, gigli, Giovanni Cobolli, immigrants, justification, juventus, lecce, Mario Balotelli, midfielder, Milan, racism, racist abuse, ROME, Serie A, stadio olimpico, tosel, touchline, turin, wrath

AC Milan hoping for Kaka boost ahead of derby

February 15, 2009

ROME (AFP) – AC Milan are hoping that Brazil star Kaka makes a miracle recovery in time to play in Sunday’s derby against Inter Milan at the San Siro.

The former world player of the year injured his foot in last week’s 1-1 home draw with rock-bottom Reggina and was initially ruled out for two weeks, meaning he would miss the clash against the Serie A leaders.

But now Milan’s chief doctor Jean Pierre Meersseman is quietly confident that the 26-year-old could indeed play a part.

"Kaka is feeling much better, he is reacting to the treatment in an exceptional manner and he no longer feels pain when he walks," he said.

"He will try to run and then we will see if it’s possible to get him ready for the derby, at least for the bench. Right now it’s too early to tell."

It’s something that coach Carlo Ancelotti, the subject of reported interest from Chelsea, is not banking on.

Of much greater concern to him is Milan’s propensity to lose points to lesser opponents, something that has left them eight points adrift of Inter and in third place in Serie A.

It has had vice-president Adriano Galliani fuming, particularly after Milan failed once again to beat one of the league’s minnows.

"I’ve always said that the problem isn’t (playing against) Inter but the matches before and after the derby," he told Mediaset, the TV station owned by Milan president and Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"The repeated negative results against small teams account for the distance between us and Inter.

"That’s something the club, Ancelotti and the technical staff have to think about.

"As for (Inter coach Jose) Mourinho I still think he’s a good guy and he simply says the truth: well done (David) Beckham, well done Pato, well done Milan but in the meantime Inter were six points ahead and now it’s eight."

Milan are paying for draws at Cagliari, Lecce and Torino as well as those at home to Genoa and Reggina.

In three of those matches they conceded late equalisers, something that has riled Ancelotti.

"Even playing well we’ve lost points in matches that were already won against Lecce, Genoa and Torino," he told La Stampa.

"That’s the difference between Inter and us."

Another difference is the form of Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic compared to that of Milan’s marquee signing six months ago Ronaldinho.

Ibrahimovic has hit the net 14 times in Serie A and is just one goal behind the league’s leading scorers, while Ronaldinho has mostly not even been able to force his way into the Milan team recently.

He started against Reggina and largely played well until he was substituted for Filippo Inzaghi.

Ronaldinho has scored half the number of goals as Ibrahimovic in the league and only nine goals in 25 matches in all competitions.

Yet Ancelotti has denied the player is merely a luxury at a club that seem to have performed better with him on the bench and the added steel of Massimo Ambrosini in midfield instead.

While the two Milan giants are occupied with each other, second place Juventus will be looking to make up ground on the leaders as they host Sampdoria.

Juve have been far from convincing recently, losing to Udinese and at home to Cagliari before an injury time winner from Dane Christian Poulsen allowed them to escape from Sicily last weekend without dropping more points as they beat Catania 2-1.

Fixtures:

Saturday

Lazio v Torino, Napoli v Bologna

Sunday

Atalanta v AS Roma, Cagliari v Lecce, Chievo v Catania, Genoa v Fiorentina, Inter Milan v AC Milan, Juventus v Sampdoria, Reggina v Palermo, Siena v Udinese

Written by: AFP

Tags: ac milan, carlo ancelotti, chief doctor, David Beckham, inter milan, jean pierre meersseman, kaka, lecce, minnows, miracle recovery, prime minister silvio, prime minister silvio berlusconi, propensity, reggina, rock bottom, san siro, Serie A, six points, tv station, world player of the year

Kaka to miss Milan derby

February 8, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Brazil star Kaka will miss the Milan derby after injuring his foot in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with rock-bottom Reggina, AC Milan confirmed on Sunday.

Kaka, Milan’s top scorer with 11 Serie A goals this season, netted a penalty in the match and finished the game but immediately afterwards it became clear that he had a problem.

Milan issued a statement on Sunday saying that tests showed he has sprained rather than broken his foot but that he faces at least two weeks on the sidelines.

The news could not have come at a worse time with the rossonero’s crucial clash against neighbours Inter Milan at the San Siro next weekend.

Milan dropped to eight points behind the champions and leaders following their draw as Inter won 3-0 at Lecce on Saturday.

Anything other than a second victory over Inter this season — Ronaldinho scored the winner with a rare header in a 1-0 success in September — could see Milan’s title hopes all but disappear.

Written by: AFP