Problem solved, for now at least

Italian Soccer Federation readmits relegated sides Catania, Genoa and Salernitana

Once again Italian soccer authorities were presented with a series of difficult issues with which they had to deal with at the outset of another new season. And they were eventually forced to make the best of the worst options to get the season fully underway.
This season's controversial issue began in August when the Italian Soccer Federation readmitted relegated sides Catania, Genoa and Salernitana to the second division, along with Florence club Fiorentina. The move came after Catania won a legal action against their relegation.
Italy's Serie A will be expanded from 18 to 20 teams next season after a deal was finally struck with rebel second division clubs who had boycotted the start of the current campaign. Following that decision Serie B returned to normal last Thursday after the clubs agreed to end their protest.
Clubs were angered by the decision last month to expand Serie B to 24 teams, with three relegated clubs given a reprieve and Fiorentina promoted. None of the opening Serie B fixtures took place, while only two matches were played in the scheduled second round.
The deal would mean five teams promoted from Serie B this season and three relegated from Serie A. A playoff will take place between the sixth place side in Serie B and the team finishing 15th in Serie A. From next season Italy will therefore have an expanded 20-team Serie A, with Serie B reduced to 22 teams.
Following last week's decision, the president of Serie B club Verona has resigned blaming the row that has dogged Italian soccer over the past month for his decision. Giambattista Pastorello said in a statement on the club's website that the expansion of Serie B to 24 clubs, a move that followed legal and political wrangles, meant "the credibility of (Italian) soccer has been totally annulled".
"Personally I couldn't see any logic in continuing in my role either as president of Hellas Verona or as a representative to the Soccer League," added Pastorello.
An enlarged Serie A presents another problem for the Italian soccer federation. At a time FIFA is urging national associations whose top domestic leagues feature 20 teams to reduce them to 18 and 16 teams, the Italian decision will have to be reversed in a season or two. That in turn could spark even more controversy to which the Italian soccer fans are accustomed.
Against this backdrop, UEFA has revealed plans to extend the amount of teams in qualifying groups for forthcoming international tournaments, starting from the FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifying stage, due to start in September next year.
This decision will lead to more competitive matches for national teams that will not go down well with clubs and in particular those in Spain, England and from next season Italy where 20 clubs battle it out in the top domestic league.
European soccer's governing body has proposed the qualifying groups for the next World Cup will see the 51 nations in the qualifying tournament split into three groups of seven teams and five groups of six.
The eight group winners and two best runners-up would qualify automatically, with the other six runners-up playing off for the three remaining spots.
For the Euro 2008 qualifying tournament, the 50 teams involved will be split into one group of eight teams and six groups of seven. The seven winners and seven runners-up will qualify for the finals.
The proposals were suggested by UEFA after certain countries had been criticized for fielding under-strength teams for friendly international games. UEFA president Lennart Johansson reckons such matches are becoming meaningless.
"We are already seeing the end of friendlies," Johansson told media. "If you watch any of these matches, you wonder why they exist, either a player is injured just before the game or the squad is not the one they would have a in am official qualifying match."
Johansson went on to add: "The place for these friendly games has in many cases gone, though some countries like to keep them for financial reasons."
Inevitably, Italian soccer authorities will discuss Serie A‚s contraction in a couple of seasons as the addition of four weeks of league action to an already congested playing calendar will cause further problems for all parties concerned.
Meanwhile, with Serie B sides back in full action, the current season is well underway. Two superb goals from Francesco Totti inspired AS Roma to an impressive 5-0 win over Brescia in Serie A last Sunday as the top clubs maintained their positive starts to the season.
Inter Milan were less impressive but also picked up their second straight win, an own goal from Leandro Cufre enough to give them a 1-0 win at promoted Siena. AC Milan and Lazio also kept up their winning starts with 2-1 wins over Bologna and Sampdoria. David Trezeguet grabbed the winner for Juventus as they came from behind to beat Chievo 2-1 in Verona
Totti, returning to action after missing Italy's European championship qualifiers last week, was in outstanding form for Fabio Capello's Roma who already look a much more impressive outfit from the side that struggled last season.
It was Totti who began the move that put them ahead in the 11th minute when he fed Antonio Cassano, who picked out Montella, the bearded striker making no mistake with a clinical finish.
Roma doubled their lead five minutes later with an unstoppable free-kick from Romanian defender Cristian Chivu, making his first appearance after completing his move from Ajax Amsterdam.
Totti made it 3-0 in the 23rd minute with a low drive after a smart exchange with Cassano as Roma took full advantage of a woeful Brescia back line. But it was Totti's second, 13 minutes into the second half, that really had the fans at the Olympic stadium on their feet.
Picking up the ball outside the Brescia area, he spotted Brescia keeper Luca Castellazzi off his line and beat him with a superb chip.
Norwegian striker John Carew, a recent signing from Valencia, also made his mark on his debut with an 89th minute penalty to complete the rout.
Inter, without injured striker Christian Vieri, made hard work of their win at Siena and can count themselves lucky.
Hector Cuper's side went ahead on the half hour when Marco Materazzi's header from an Andy van der Meyde cross was headed in by Siena's Brazilian defender Leandro Cufre. Inter were solid and well-organized but lacked the creative spark needed to break down Siena's well-organized defense.
The Tuscan side, playing their first ever home game in the top flight, almost stole a point in the final minutes when former Torino defender Daniele Delli Carri headed against the bar from close range.
European champions Milan needed a late strike from in-form Filippo Inzaghi to beat Bologna 2-1 at the San Siro stadium while the Italy striker's brother Simone was on target in Lazio's 2-1 win at promoted Sampdoria.
Juventus had won all four of their previous meetings with Chievo in Serie A and maintained that record despite struggling early on. Chievo went ahead in the 21st minute with a Lorenzo D'Anna penalty.
But Marcello Lippi's side were on level terms within five minutes as former Chievo defender Nicola Legrottaglie rose well to head in a Camoranesi free-kick.
French forward Trezeguet's winner came with a cool strike as he brought down a cross from Gianluca Zambrotta and beat Chievo keeper Luca Marchegiani with a left-foot finish.
Parma enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Perugia with goals from Mark Bresciano, Adriano (penalty) and Alberto Gilardino.

Publication Date: 2003-09-21
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3174