Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - 2006-07 Soccer Thread

MIJB#19 · 08-04-2006, 02:54 AM

Good evidence or not, Milan has been punished for their part of being involved in fixing games. That should be enough reason to exclude them from playing in the Champions' League. The UEFA has always had (and taken) the freedom to deny the list of teams presented by national FA's, they should have played it hard and told the Italian FA to withdraw Milan or face a nationwide suspension. With this turn of happenings, the Italian FA sends out a message that fixing isn't right, but also isn't particularly wrong. They send out the message that Italian soccer is corrupt.

Stripping title or missing out on European competitions, I think the fans care more about the former. Going by attendance figures, European competitions tend to not be so important to Italian soccer fans, Juventus has always had trouble to even fill half of their stadium for Champions' League matches. Either the people in charge don't care to get the stadium full, or the fans really don't care until the final stages have been reached. Coincidentally AC Milan couldn't get their stadium above 2/3rd full for games before the semifinals last CL season.

08-04-2006, 02:54 AM	#293
MIJB#19 Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands	Good evidence or not, Milan has been punished for their part of being involved in fixing games. That should be enough reason to exclude them from playing in the Champions' League. The UEFA has always had (and taken) the freedom to deny the list of teams presented by national FA's, they should have played it hard and told the Italian FA to withdraw Milan or face a nationwide suspension. With this turn of happenings, the Italian FA sends out a message that fixing isn't right, but also isn't particularly wrong. They send out the message that Italian soccer is corrupt. Stripping title or missing out on European competitions, I think the fans care more about the former. Going by attendance figures, European competitions tend to not be so important to Italian soccer fans, Juventus has always had trouble to even fill half of their stadium for Champions' League matches. Either the people in charge don't care to get the stadium full, or the fans really don't care until the final stages have been reached. Coincidentally AC Milan couldn't get their stadium above 2/3rd full for games before the semifinals last CL season. __________________ * 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail Last edited by MIJB#19 : 08-04-2006 at 02:55 AM.