[Centraal] Serie B & C-topic deel 3

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Op maandag 21 juni 2004 12:49 schreef ZIOPPA het volgende:

Uit de Serie C zijn de volgende ploegen gepromoveerd: Arezzo, Catanzaro, Cesena en Crotone.

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Serie B van volgend seizoen (voorlopig; zijn nog enkele ploegen die geen licensie hebben en/o verwikkeld zijn in gokschandalen):

Albinoleffe, Ancona, Arezzo, Ascoli, Catania, Catanzaro,Cesena, Crotone, Empoli, Genoa, Modena, Napoli, Perugia, Piacenza, Salernitana, Ternana, Torino, Treviso, Triestina, Venezia, Verona, Vicenza.

Grote favoriet voor de volgende editie lijkt nu al Genoa. Preziosi lijkt absurde salarissen te willen betalen om Genoa weer bij de Serie A te laten horen.

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Verder -wat mij betreft- Forza Napoli, Genoa, Torino en Verona!

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Op maandag 21 juni 2004 16:14 schreef Afunados het volgende:
tvp

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Op maandag 21 juni 2004 16:17 schreef DIGGER het volgende:

[..]

Torino, Vicenza, Piacenza?

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Napoli: Molotov contro la casa di Ferlaino
23/06/2004 - di: Francesco Romaniello

Ennesimo atto vile nei confronti dell'ex presidente del Calcio Napoli ing. Corrado Ferlaino, una bomba molotov è scoppiata nella villa di Ferlaino, reo secondo questi balordi di essere responsabile della grave situazione societaria. E' scandaloso che dei "deficenti" possano vendicarsi con la violenza di presunte colpe dell'ing. Ferlaino. Corrado Ferlaino ha certamente enormi colpe della gestione del recente passato, ma non si può, ogni qual volta accusarlo ogni qual volta che le cose vanno male. La Redazione di Tuttonapoli.net è solidale con l'ex presidente del Calcio Napoli ing.Corrado Ferlaino

Gazzetta.it

Una bottiglia incendiaria è stata lanciata contro l' abitazione di Corrado Ferlaino, ex presidente del Calcio Napoli, in Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Lo scoppio ha provocato danni ad un' automobile - una Twingo - parcheggiata in un piccolo cortile. Ferlaino era in casa ed ha avvertito egli stesso le forze dell' ordine ed i Vigili del Fuoco. Le fiamme hanno provocato lievi danni ad una parete esterna dell' abitazione. La bottiglia incendiaria sarebbe stata lanciata da un veicolo - probabilmente un motorino - in corsa. La molotov si è schiantata contro l' auto parcheggiata davanti all' ingresso ed ha provocato una fiammata. Non è il primo attentato che viene compiuto con queste modalità contro l' abitazione di Ferlaino. L' ex presidente, dopo aver
ceduto la sua quota parte a Giorgio Corbelli, era stato completamente soddisfatto nel pagamento di quanto pattuito, anche a seguito dell' ingresso in società di Salvatore Naldi, che aveva rilevato il Napoli e che si è dimesso ieri, al culmine di una gravissima crisi di liquidità. È ipotizzabile che l' attentato di questa notte sia da mettere in connessione con il ruolo tenuto fino a qualche tempo fa da Ferlaino nel Calcio Napoli: una sorta di vendetta postuma per quanto accaduto alla società e per l' annunciato fallimento della stessa.

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Op woensdag 23 juni 2004 15:19 schreef ZIOPPA het volgende:
Lees net op Fiorentina.it dat Napoli zo goed als failliet is...

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Napoli: Corsa a tre
Tre sono le cordate che si contendono il Napoli Calcio

23/06/2004 di Francesco Romaniello

articolo letto 273 volteGli scenari si stanno delineando, secondo voci insistenti le cordate che vorrebbero acuisire la maggioranza del Calcio Napoli sono tre. La prima cordata è quella formata da Gaucci D'Ambrosio ex re del grano e forse Said Gheddafi. Gaucci secondo indscrezioni avrebbe offerto 40 milioni di euro. A ruota c'è la cordata Veneta formata da Renzo Rosso proprietario della Diesel Andrea Tomat della Lotto e Mario Moretti Polegato proprietario della Geox. Infine c'è la terza formata da Gallo Lega Azzurra e il re delle Cucine Cav. Ettore Setten. Chi è il favorito? Al momento come abbiamo appena scritto, la cordata formata da Gaucci, sembra essere in vantaggio. Ma tutto può cambiare. Però tempi comunque sono molto strettissimi, entro il 30 di giugno il Calcio Napoli dovrebbe iscriversi al campionato cadetto ma per fare questo dovrebbe pagare gli stipendi arretrati ai calciatori che non hanno chiesto lo svincolo per ottenere la liberatorie che è assolutamente necessaria. Alla Prossima!!!

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Napoli placed under administration

Napoli once ruled Europe and Italy with Diego Armando Maradona, but they have gone into administration and could be relegated to the fourth division.

The situation at the Stadio San Paolo had been difficult for some time following a bitter row between President Salvatore Naldi and former owner Giorgio Corbelli. Neither could decide who actually owned the majority of the club’s shares and therefore who had the responsibility to find the £6m to save the side.

President Naldi has now resigned and Paolo Bellamio was placed in charge as the club went into administration.

He faces a race against time, as not only must the capital be increased within the next month, the money to pay outstanding wages needs to be found by June 30 or the players will be freed from their contracts.

“I concluded my experience with Napoli by proving my passion for this club,” insisted President Naldi. “I resigned because it was the right thing to do, as at this point I had been left completely alone.”

“I only hope that in the next few days Napoli will be saved, as in these years I have faced too many obstacles.”

This is a similar situation to that of AC Fiorentina, who were declared bankrupt in 2002 and a new side was created in Serie C2 – the Italian fourth division.

Now administrator Bellamio must find new investors to rescue the fallen giants from this fate and there are reports of negotiations with Perugia patron Luciano Gaucci.

“If certain situations that have already been hinted at can develop within the next couple of weeks,” noted Bellamio, “then I think we can save Napoli and keep this club in the League it belongs to.”

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Carbone comes home to Catanzaro

Benito Carbone has joined his hometown club Catanzaro, fresh from promotion into Serie B.

“If three weeks ago someone had told me that I’d be playing my football near my home town this season, I would have shaken my head in disbelief,” commented the 33-year-old.

“Then something changed. The Catanzaro President came to me and, in simple words, outlined an ambitious plan for the future that really peaked my enthusiasm.”

Veteran creative midfielder Carbone spent the last year at financially stricken Parma and was expected to make his return to the Premiership following spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford, Derby County and Middlesbrough.

Instead, he will take charge of a team from his native Calabria that scraped through to Serie B via the play-offs, but is already eager to climb into the first division.


“I return to Calabria,” concluded Carbone, “as the symbol of a side like Catanzaro that wants to reach Serie A as quickly as possible.”

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Op donderdag 24 juni 2004 18:56 schreef methodmich het volgende:
Dat Arezzo, is dat dezelfde club als Montevarchi (o.i.d) 1902 uit Arezzo?

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Op woensdag 30 juni 2004 15:44 schreef methodmich het volgende:
Okee, dank je. Dan maak ik een nieuwe club aan in mijn oude CM-database.

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Op woensdag 30 juni 2004 16:09 schreef methodmich het volgende:
Ja, maar ik heb CM 97/98 met eigen database. Dus ik werk bij.

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Gaucci and Gheddafi rescue Napoli
Perugia chief Luciano Gaucci has penned an agreement to buy out struggling giants Napoli, but might need Al-Saadi Gheddafi's help.

“I am very happy for both Napoli and myself,” announced the fiery businessman on a local radio station. “If the institutions of football are understanding, as they have been with other clubs, then we will make Napoli great again.”

Napoli were placed under administration earlier this month after players sued for unpaid wages and an ongoing legal battle between President Salvatore Naldi and former owner Giorgio Corbelli came to a head.

Gaucci now seems to be the Stadio San Paolo’s saviour and pledged to pump £16m into the side over the next five years, plus another £15m to buy out the club, but this is far from a done deal due to the intervention of the FIGC.

Under the current regulations, one man is not permitted to own majority shares in two different clubs if they are in the same Division. Following Perugia’s play-off defeat to Fiorentina, both Gaucci’s sides would therefore be in Serie B.

“If we are denied the right to complete this transaction,” noted lawyer Giovanni Bruno, “then we will go to the TAR appeal tribunal. We are in the right and this is a legal deal.”

Gaucci himself went on the warpath with his radio interview. “The Federation and League must not throw a spanner in the works. I will dedicate myself entirely to Napoli and do everything in my power to make these fans happy.”

There are several methods that the businessman will attempt in order to escape from these rules. The first – buying out Napoli through one of his many businesses and therefore not directly under his control – looks doomed to failure.

The other option is to sell Perugia to Al-Saadi Gheddafi (pictured), one of the team’s players and the son of Libyan leader Mouammar Gheddafi.

It has been speculated in the Italian press that Gheddafi first joined Serie A last summer in order to set this plan in motion and not to launch his playing career in the peninsula.

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Op donderdag 1 juli 2004 14:43 schreef ZIOPPA het volgende:
Cosmi waarschijnlijk nieuwe trainer. Denk niet dat je veel betere trainers kunt hebben in Serie B!

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Cosmi to join Napoli if…

Serse Cosmi says he will Coach Napoli next term if Luciano Gaucci takes control of the Serie B side.

\"If Gaucci buys the outfit then I will be sitting on the Azzurri bench,\" said the current Perugia boss.

Perugia President Gaucci has made an offer for the San Paolo team but he still needs clearance from the Italian Football Federation.

That is because FIGC rules state that one person can’t own two clubs in the same Division – something that now applies after Perugia’s relegation.

Cosmi is keen for a new challenge after taking over at the Stadio Renato Curi in the summer of 2000.

The tactician has been linked with numerous jobs but possible moves to Fiorentina, Roma and Benfica failed to materialise.

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Napoli declared bankrupt

Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli have been declared bankrupt, so now four different companies are vying to start again with a new club and title in Serie C1.


The bankruptcy tribunal has not yet made the news official, but sources inside the courts claim the decision to liquidate the club is now inevitable.

“Right now I am especially sorry for Salvatore Naldi,” potential owner Luciano Gaucci said of the former President. “He put so much money into this experience and really did everything he could to salvage Napoli.”

The Serie B side has been at the centre of bitter legal wrangling between former owners Naldi and Giorgio Corbelli for over two years now, leading to the collapse of one of Italy’s most widely supported clubs.

In the 78 years since its inception, Napoli had won two Serie A titles, a UEFA Cup, Italian Supercup and three Coppa Italia’s, almost all of them during the Golden Years of Diego Armando Maradona.

Gaucci had hoped to ‘rent’ SS Napoli in order to get round the rules preventing one man from owning two clubs in the same division – as he is still patron of recently relegated Perugia – but the FA and the Appeals Tribunal both rejected this proposal.

“Now we need to see what the bankruptcy tribunal actually stated on our case and our next appeal to the CONI arbitration committee.”

All is not lost for Napoli fans, as it is likely a new club will be allowed to start again in Serie C1 for the 2004-05 campaign. The so-called Lodo Petrucci rule gives businessmen the chance to buy into their slot to ensure football is not lost to the big cities.

So far four applications have been received to start a new club in Naples. Gaucci has already set up Napoli Sportiva, having bought out Naldi for £31m, while current Siena President Paolo De Luca has created Napoli F.C. with the promise of loaned players from Juventus and Palermo.

Other options are Azzurra Napoli, run by Luis Vinicio with the objective of selling shares to the supporters in small amounts, and Napoli Sport for a group of businessmen from nearby Nola.

By Tuesday afternoon each of these potential clubs must provide guarantees for a total of £5m to prove their stability for a season in Serie C1. The decision on which will be given the go-ahead will be made on August 4.

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What next for Napoli?

The future of Napoli will be decided over the next couple of days, but Luciano Gaucci insists he won’t give up his fight to keep them in Serie B.

SSC Napoli is no more after the bankruptcy tribunal rejected Gaucci’s latest attempts to ‘rent’ the club from former President Salvatore Naldi. The report also suggests that Perugia patron Gaucci will be unable to rescue the situation in the appeal courts.

“The demise of this club has been all too predictable over the last five years,” read the official tribunal statement. “It has been caused by the unclear status of the ownership, the legal wrangling between Naldi, Giorgio Corbelli and Corrado Ferlaino, the chaotic business transactions and the far too late attempts to save Napoli.”

Above all, the statement puts a spanner in the works for Gaucci’s appeals by noting his plan was “too late and with little regard for the rules of business or sport.”

The figures are also desperately disappointing, with debts of over £20m and “only enough revenue to pay the phone and energy bills.” Gaucci’s proposal of bringing in £3m a season over five years was also dubbed “entirely insufficient considering the size of the debt.”

At this point it seems the only option for Napoli’s fans is to start a new club in Serie C1, where four businesses are already prepared to take up the mantle of the Lodo Petrucci rule.

However, Gaucci has not yet given up the ghost and insists he will not enter the race to set up a new side in a lower division.

“The Lodo Petrucci would be an illegal move,” claimed the volcanic Perugia patron, “and by declaring SSC Napoli bankrupt we would effectively leave the creditors without anything. In fact, we are getting the squad together for pre-season training and trying to sign some foreign players with EC passports.”

According to the new rules, Gaucci’s version of Napoli would be forced to start again in the amateur League and all its players released from their contracts.

The businessman could yet enter the race to start again in Serie C1, but all paperwork must be handed in by this evening along with £5m as a deposit.

On Wednesday there will be another important development, as CONI’s arbitration committee will give its verdict on Gaucci’s appeal. It is unlikely this will go in his favour, as the club he wished to ‘rent’ has been declared bankrupt anyway.

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Napoli spark new Serie B storm

Serie B is in for another torrid summer as Napoli’s appeal was rejected, taking the matter to the courts.

Luciano Gaucci’s attempts to ‘rent’ the Naples club, thereby getting around rules banning one man from owning two sides in the same Division, have been cut down at every turn and today the CONI arbitration commission also came out against the Perugia patron.

However, Gaucci has some support behind him, as the administrators suggest registration to Serie B is Napoli’s most valuable asset and must therefore be protected in order to better pay back its creditors.

Now the Naples Tribunal has received a request from the administrators to block the drawing up of the 2004-05 calendar if Napoli are not included.

At the same time, the bankruptcy clerks have ordered Gaucci not to begin a pre-season training camp, originally planned for this afternoon.

“We are only interested in one thing,” announced the volcanic businessman, “and that is to keep Napoli in Serie B. I came here to achieve this and I will fight for it now. Even the bankruptcy tribunal agrees with me and I really don’t care what anyone else has to say about it.”

Gaucci is certainly not one for idle threats, as last summer several months went by in the courts before the FIGC was forced to expand Serie B to 24 teams in order to accommodate his relegated Catania.

As for the future of Napoli, it is reported that none of the interested parties handed over the paperwork or cash needed to take up the Lodo Petrucci – a rule allowing a bankrupt club to start again with new ownership in Serie C1.

If Gaucci’s latest crusade against the football authorities fails, it is possible Napoli will have to begin again in the amateur divisions.

There is also another legal battle in place, as Perugia director Alessandro Gaucci has seen his appeal to have Parma thrown out of Serie A rejected by the CONI arbitration commission.

“We will go to the civil courts to have justice,” slammed the son of the new Napoli patron. “It is so clear that Parma have registered for Serie A incorrectly that I cannot see how they have failed to accept our appeal. This is a scandalous decision.”

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Gaucci buys out Napoli

Luciano Gaucci has officially bought Napoli, abandoning his rent plan, but it’s still not enough to keep the club in Serie B.

SSC Napoli was declared bankrupt and ruled out of entering the Serie B Championship this week with mounting debts. Perugia patron Gaucci had tried to ‘rent’ the side, thereby getting around rules preventing one man owning two clubs in the same division.

The bankruptcy tribunal asked for more guarantees, so late last night he put pen to paper on a contract to buy Napoli for £30m to be paid over the next five years.

However, the FIGC has again made it clear this will not be enough to keep the fallen giants in Serie B after failing to register their finances in time.

President Franco Carraro, supported by the CONI arbitration commission, insist that there are now only two options open to Napoli: to register for the Lodo Petrucci rule before August 12 and drop down to Serie C1 or start all over again in the amateur division.

The Mayor of Naples and several MP’s have been actively begging for help from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, but following last summer’s chaos in Serie B, the various sporting bodies now seem determined to stick together and ensure their rules are respected.

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Ancona President arrested

Ancona’s troubles go from bad to worse after accusations of fraud, while Como and Napoli wait on the courts.

The club finished bottom of the table in Serie A last season, but failed to prove its financial security for the new campaign and was excluded from Serie B.

President Ermanno Pieroni tended his resignation and is now under arrest following accusations of fraud.

As nobody has come forward to take advantage of the Lodo Petrucci rule, it seems as if Ancona will have to start again in the amateur divisions.

That is a fate that will not now befall Como, who were initially excluded from Serie C1 due to their financial problems. Today the CONI arbitration commission ruled that Como must be readmitted to C1.

The future of Napoli remains in the balance despite Luciano Gaucci finally buying out the club for £30m to be paid over five years, shelving his unpopular plans to merely ‘rent’ the side.

“We have completed the contracts,” explained the new Napoli President. “I gave the bankruptcy tribunal all the financial guarantees it needed, including my real estate businesses as collateral. Now we can only hope the FIGC can listen to its conscience and let Napoli stay in Serie B.”

This is increasingly unlikely, as the Federation has made it clear that SSC Napoli is bankrupt and therefore unable to hang on to its slot in the second division.

Gaucci’s only option, pending a change of heart or order from the courts, is to register for the Lodo Petrucci before August 12 and start with a new club in Serie C1, or be relegated to the amateur League.

“I want Serie B and that is what we must get,” he added. “I and the tribunal will move to do justice and give Napoli what it deserves.”

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Betting scandal delays Serie B start

The betting scandal that swept through Serie A towards the end of last season is reaching a head with 40 people recommended for trial and the Serie B season delayed until Sept 12.

The matter will probably be brought before the Disciplinary Commission on August 16 and an appeal to the CAF no earlier than September 3.

Because of these expected delays and possible changes to the entire Serie A and B line-up, the start of the Serie B season will now officially be delayed until September 12, confirmed the FIGC this evening.

Federal Prosecutor Emidio Frascione has asked Chievo, Siena and Sampdoria to be charged with indirect responsibility for the alleged bets, but it’s reported that Modena have the more serious accusation of direct responsibility.

If the players are found guilty of the more serious charges they risk long bans from activity, but the clubs could face a points penalty or even automatic relegation.

Of the 40 people involved, 15 have been accused of illicit sporting behaviour, 10 for failing to report the infraction of rules and 15 for violating the principles of sport. This last group would appear to be those who placed bets on football matches, which is illegal if you are registered as a player, Coach or director of any club.

Those accused of various charges include ex-Siena Coach Giuseppe Papadopulo (pictured), Chievo’s current director of sport Giovanni Sartori, former tactician Gigi Del Neri and ex-Ancona boss Giovanni Galeone.

Sampdoria star and Italian international Stefano Bettarini is included in the list of players accused of illicit sporting behaviour, along with Modena’s Antonio Marasco, while Generoso Rossi, Roberto D’Aversa and Nicola Ventola have allegedly breached the principles of sport.

However, most of the ‘crimes’ these people are accused of involve failing to alert the authorities to the possibility of an infraction of the rules.

Six Serie A games from the 2003-04 season are under the spotlight:

Lecce 0-0 Siena, March 7 2004 http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0304/lec-sie.html
Chievo 1-1 Siena, March 21 2004 http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0304/chi-sie.html
Ancona 0-2 Chievo, April 25 2004 http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0304/anc-chi.html
Modena 1-0 Sampdoria, April 25 2004 http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0304/mod-sam.html
Chievo 2-0 Modena, May 2 2004 http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0304/chi-mod.html
Ancona 2-1 Empoli, May 9 2004 http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0304/anc-emp.html

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Napoli win Serie C appeal

SSC Napoli could yet be safe after the local Tribunal ruled that Luciano Gaucci’s club has a right to stay in Serie B despite bankruptcy.

The FIGC continues to insist that there are only two avenues left for the side – to register for the Lodo Petrucci and start again in Serie C1 or drop straight down to the amateur League.

However, the Tribunal of Naples has ruled that playing in Serie B is an economic advantage, so to stay in the second division would give its creditors a greater chance of getting their money back.

“We knew that the Tribunal would not disappoint us,” stated Gaucci’s legal advisor Serao. “The authorities cannot trample all over the rights of creditors. Now we are waiting for the FIGC to take steps.”

This is not only an important development for Napoli’s situation, but effectively rules that the Lodo Petrucci is illegal – less than a year after its inception.

“The civil courts respect the laws, but for a while now the sporting justice system has merely interpreted them,” commented Gaucci.

“I am sure that the FIGC will continue to resist, but Napoli deserve to stay in Serie B. The fans should relax, as I have the means to create a wonderful squad.”

The Serie A and B calendars are set to be drawn up on August 12, but between the betting scandal and this protracted affair that could well be delayed.

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Napoli reveal Baggio talks

Luciano Gaucci is determined to keep Napoli in Serie B and today confirmed negotiations with Roberto Baggio.

“There is a meeting already set up between our director of sport Guido Angelozzi and agent Vittorio Petrone to discuss signing Roberto Baggio,” Gaucci told a local television station.

This is not the first time that the Perugia and Napoli patron has named Baggio as a transfer target, but he has now confirmed that talks are taking place.

“Baggio is the kind of player who brings crowds to their feet all by himself,” continued the ambitious businessman, “and Napoli can truly appreciate that type of football.”

The Serie A and B calendars should be drawn up tomorrow, but with Napoli’s place still far from certain that could be delayed.

The FIGC insists that the only avenue for the bankrupt side is Serie C1 as part of the Lodo Petrucci rule, or to start again in the amateur divisions. However, Gaucci won an appeal to the Naples Tribunal yesterday afternoon stating that the club’s place in Serie B is to be considered an asset that cannot be taken away from the creditors.

There are now reports that Serie B could be expanded to 23 teams in order to accommodate the litigious Gaucci and he is preparing for the future.

“In order to be competitive and aim for promotion into Serie A,” he added, “we need another seven great players. Napoli have already signed Zeljko Kalac and Luca Fusani from Perugia and we’re looking to bring in others.”

Meanwhile, Ancona look set to miss out on both Serie B and C1, as this morning the club was declared bankrupt and an administrator assigned. Reports suggest their debts mounted to as much as £20m after ex-President Ermanno Pieroni was arrested and accused of fraud.

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Napoli excluded from Serie B

Despite winning an appeal in the civil courts, the FIGC has excluded Napoli and Ancona from today’s Serie B calendars, promoting Pescara and Bari.

"The rules are clearly written and there was no other way," revealed League President Adriano Galliani.

Although Ancona have accepted their position – bankrupt and without the necessary guarantees to register for the Lodo Petrucci, they will start again in the amateur divisions – Napoli are fighting tooth and nail to retain their place.

Patron Luciano Gaucci won an appeal to the Naples Tribunal this week, stating that the Lodo Petrucci is illegal, as the Serie B status of a club is to be considered an asset that cannot be taken away from them.

However, the FIGC is sticking to its guns and after today’s meeting drew up the calendars for Serie A and B.

Recently relegated Bari and Pescara were drafted in to fill in the blanks, while the Serie C1 calendar will contain an ‘x’ to give Napoli the opportunity to register for the Lodo Petrucci before September 1. Pavia have been promoted to Serie C1.

Gaucci has already stated he will not take this avenue, so if his legal battle fails then Napoli will be forced to start again in the amateur Leagues.

This is certainly not a new scenario for the Perugia patron, as he also waged a legal war against the FIGC last summer. The calendars had already been drawn up when his appeals to the civil courts ordered them to be scrapped and Serie B was eventually expanded to 24 teams to accommodate his club Catania.

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Fiorentina main fails drugs test

Former Fiorentina and Udinese midfielder Thomas Manfredini has failed a routine drugs test during one of his matches with the Viola jersey.

The 24-year-old tested positive for salbutamol during the Serie B encounter between Catania and Fiorentina on May 29 2004.

It has been an action-packed week for the player, who was sold to Catania by his parent club Udinese on Tuesday afternoon.

Manfredini will be suspended pending further analysis and a disciplinary hearing.

Salbutamol is most commonly taken using an inhaler device and is prescribed for shortness of breath, asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.

Fiorentina have already stated that the substance was found in a prescribed medication that had been registered with the FIGC.

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Gaucci faces Napoli competition

Luciano Gaucci announces more legal action to keep Napoli in Serie B, but two other clubs could replace them in the third division.

The FIGC ignored a ruling by the Naples Tribunal demanding that the bankrupt club be restored to Serie B and drew up the fixture list with Bari and Pescara promoted in place of Napoli and Ancona.

“I expected that decision,” mused Gaucci, “but it’s not over yet. There is a ruling from the civil courts and we will have our place in Serie B.”

FIGC President Franco Carraro explained the move by stating, “We have full respect for the Naples tribunal, but this is a sporting matter and must therefore be dealt with within the rules of football. Last year it was also confirmed by the Government that the only civil court clubs could appeal to was the TAR in Lazio.”

A gap has been left in the Serie C1 calendar should Napoli wish to register for the Lodo Petrucci – starting again in a lower division – before September 1.

However, this is where the developments of the last few days could leave Gaucci in the lurch. The Perugia patron has refused to register for the Lodo Petrucci, but two other clubs have applied to take Napoli’s slot.

The first to make an official application is the ‘Azzurra Calcio Napoli spa’ owned by former player Luis Vinicio. It is his plan to set up a club that can be owned by the fans, each buying a small number of shares, rather than by one patron.

The other side vying to start from Serie C1 is owned by Siena President Paolo De Luca. A native Neapolitan, the businessman has made quite an impact on the Italian football scene by taking little Siena to their first ever top flight experience within a year of taking over.

“It was obvious that Gaucci’s appeal would be rejected,” said De Luca. “I am doing everything I can to save football in this city that I dearly love. Now I can only pray that everyone shows some common sense.”

Meanwhile, Bari and Pescara are not the only clubs to be ‘promoted’ due to the financial difficulties of others. Prato and Pavia have been brought back to Serie C1, while Pro Vercelli, Vigor Lamezia, Montevarchi, Calcio Potenza, Imolese, Castel di Sangro, Sanremese, Bellaria and Palazzolo are in C2.

Como’s appeal to the CONI arbitration committee has been accepted, so they retain their spot in Serie C1.

Ancona and Viterbese are pushed down to the amateur divisions after failing to prove their financial status even for the Lodo Petrucci.

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De Luca outlines Napoli project

While Luciano Gaucci continues his legal battle, Siena patron Paolo De Luca proposes a new plan to save Napoli from extinction.

“Negatives can be turned into positives,” assured the native Neapolitan businessman who took Siena to their first ever Serie A campaign.

“To start again from Serie C1 is an opportunity we should take, as changing everything is more beneficial than merely pretending to change.”

Gaucci is waging a legal battle to keep Napoli in Serie B despite their bankruptcy, but De Luca aims to register for the Lodo Petrucci and start afresh – free from debt – in C1.

“I am the complete opposite of Gaucci in every way,” smiled the Siena chief. “I am also one of the few people who could put together a competitive squad in the space of a week.”

“My plan is to set up five youth squads from the local and regional area, almost like a farm for football players. We don’t need star names in C1, as they are already sitting down and looking for their pay cheques the moment they arrive. What Napoli needs now is fitness, the right attitude and passion.”

Gaucci’s lawyers and the Naples tribunal have ordered the Serie B calendars to be scrapped and redrawn to include Napoli, but the FIGC is holding firm on its position that the club is bankrupt and cannot be registered for anything other than Serie C1 or the amateur League.