Serie B teams unite against Napoli
Saturday 28 August, 2004

CHANNEL 4

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Serie B’s 22 sides have issued a statement claiming they won’t play if Napoli
are readmitted, but the club’s fate will be decided this weekend.


The San Paolo side, along with Ancona, has been excluded from the new 22-team
division due to its financial instability, but patron Luciano Gaucci is leading
a legal crusade to have them added on to an expanded Serie B.


“A Serie B campaign will not begin,” read a joint statement following
yesterday’s meeting, “if it is anything except the planned division with 22
teams.”


A similar sentiment was expressed last summer, but Gaucci’s legal battle on
behalf of Catania proved successful and the League was expanded to 24 sides.


“Napoli and Ancona do not have the right to play in Serie B,” added League
Vice-President Antonio Matarrese. “If we accept their position, then we allow
football to be ruled by magistrates. What we are doing today is choosing
dignity.”


“It is unthinkable,” noted League chief Adriano Galliani, “that the fixture
lists are to be drawn up by judges in the courts.


As expected, Gaucci (pictured) was unfazed by this latest mass movement against
his latest legal crusade.


“I don’t care what the Serie B Presidents threaten to do,” snapped the former
Perugia patron, “because they count for nothing. Besides, these clubs are all
pushed to make certain statements by those in power.”


“All that matters here is what the tribunal will rule and if it says Napoli
belongs in Serie B then there is nothing they can do about it.”


The Serie B meeting has also voted in five new representatives: Vice-President
Enrico Preziosi (Genoa), plus counsellors Benigni (Ascoli), Lo Monaco (Catania),
Dal Cin (Venezia) and Matarrese (Bari).


The clubs have agreed to implement a play-off and play-out system for promotion
and relegation from the Second Division.