Serie A has always had problems, but since Calciopoli,
it seems like they just cannot get it together. They focus on ridiculous
things, like commissioning an anthem for the league
three years ago that is meant to help curb corruption. Because songs totally curb corruption, right? In addition to that
ridiculous irony, it was written in three languages: Latin, Italian, and
English. Do you think most footballers speak those three languages? And I
don’t know about the other languages, but the English is not great. So fitting
for a league that is so intrinsically corrupt and self-destructive. But also so
deluded at the same time.
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| Hooray for matchfixing! |
Parma were promoted back to Serie A this season, which was
great for opposition fans who remember the glory days of the original club.
You know, the great Parma of the 1990's, before the bankruptcy? I don’t follow other big European leagues enough to know
for sure, but it seems like Serie A has a lot more financial problems, too. But
that wasn’t even the controversy this year for Parma. This year, it was WhatsApp messages from a
Parma player to two Spezia players asking them to go easy when they faced off
in the game that won Parma promotion. You know, match fixing? That could have
seen them relegated back to Serie B. But the courts instead ordered a five
point deduction. And that was overturned by the FIGC’s board of appeal. So
match fixing, no big deal. It's become the norm.
Chievo was accused of false accounting transfers of 30
players with Cesena. That's 30. It is reported that some of the transfers were inflated up
to 9,000 per cent. 9,000 per cent. All of this, of course gave them a financial advantage in
their accounts. They absolutely should have been relegated. But they, too, got to stay in Serie A, with only a three points
deduction. A mere slap on the wrist. Literally, how is this allowed?
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| Those aren't ballboys, people |
As if the misconduct off the pitch were not bad enough, Frosinone
were promoted in a two-legged playoff with Palermo in which Frosinone
players and staff threw multiple balls on the pitch in order to disrupt play in the second leg.
Seriously? Some have called it poor sportsmanship, but I call it cheating. There
were also multiple ref calls in question, too, but Frosinone eventually won. Palermo
filed complaints and appealed to the end of the appeals, but Frosinone are
still in Serie A this season. Unbelievable.
But don’t worry: Serie A are tackling the important issues.
Like captain’s armbands, for example. This season, they created a new rule that
all captains would have to wear the same, Serie A-issued and approved armband.
Because when you have teams that match fix, commit fraud, and cheat, this is
the kind of issue that people want addressed. No more of Papu Gomez’ cool
armbands that changed from week to week with different images from pop culture.
And at first, it seemed that they would also ban Fiorentina’s tribute to their
fallen captain, Astori, who passed away just this past March. But luckily, they
took time away from ignoring the cheating and match-fixing to approve that one.
They are only almost that heartless.
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| Inspired. |
I really don’t know what to say. I could cite dozens of
incidents where Serie A has turned a blind eye to actual corruption and then
focused on developing, say, a new logo that looks like a man with a big hat and
mustache. But at the end of the day, it never changes. And don’t get me started
on the problems with Serie B this season, either. When football is played more
in the courts than on the pitch, you are doing something wrong. Very wrong.
They so often turn a blind eye to the problems that keep the league stranded in
the mire which they themselves have created, that it will be amazing if the
league ever comes close to getting back to what it used to be. But when you can
barely elect a president or agree on anything but armbands, it’s not surprising that the
moral character goes missing completely and priorities turn upside down. It’s
all part of the deluded Serie A.
This post inspired by the music of
Giovanni Allevi’s “O Generosa”
Our next match will
be
Serie A Week 9
il Derby della Madonnina
Inter vs. Milan
Sunday, October 21 •
20:30 CEST (2:30pm EDT)