Gaucci faces Napoli competition
Friday 13 August, 2004

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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.


Napoli excluded from Serie B
Thursday 12 August, 2004

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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.