Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has joined Juventus coach Antonio Conte in calling for drastic changes in the way Italian football is organised, saying it needs a “revolution.”
“We need a revolution in Italian football,” the film producer turned club president said.
“We need to turn over the table and adopt rules which are suitable for 2013, not 1900.”
De Laurentiis was possibly referring to the difficulties Italian clubs face in building their own stadiums, including red tape and lack of financial incentives.
Juve are the only Serie A club to own their own stadium.
Ancelotti wishes to extend contract
Carlo Ancelotti says he wants to stay at Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain next season as the club close in on their first French league title since 1994.
“I have decided that I want to stay,” Ancelotti, whose contract ends in June but is due to be automatically renewed for one year if the club finish in the top three, said.
“Things are very clear. The work I have been doing will be judged at the end of the season. If everybody is happy I will be happy to stay. Then we will be able to extend the adventure here.”
Milan not for sale
The Berlusconi family will never sell Milan, Barbara Berlusconi, club director and daughter of owner Silvio, was quoted as saying yesterday.
“My father has taught us all something: that Milan has a place in our hearts,” Barbara Berlusconi said.
“The Berlusconi family will never sell the club. Creating partnerships for investment in order to grow is one thing, but selling the club is another... and it won’t happen.”
There was speculation last year that Milan were considering selling a stake to the Qatari sovereign wealth fund, but vice-president Adriano Galliani denied the reports.
FA may not follow UEFA’s lead
The English FA may not follow UEFA’s recommendation of a 10-match minimum ban for players found guilty of racism.
UEFA will recommend to all its 53 member associations at next month’s Congress that they follow its lead. But FA chairman David Bernstein said English football may not have the same minimum ban.
He said: “I can’t comment on the number of matches that will be our minimum.
“We have our own processes. We’ve our own audience of people we have to satisfy.
“There is a bind for all parts of English football and something we have to get to very carefully in a very measured way. We would not necessarily get to the same solution as UEFA.”
Exit was on the cards says Petkovic
Lazio coach Vladimir Petkovic acknowledged after his team’s Europa League exit at the hands of Fenerbahce that the tie had been lost in the first leg.
The Rome club, hosting the second leg of the quarter-final behind closed doors, faced an uphill battle having lost 2-0 in Istanbul.
For 70 minutes they put up a determined fight and Senad Lulic’s goal just after the hour mark gave them hope, but Caner Erkin’s powerful equaliser ended Italian hopes.
“We compromised our qualification chances in the first leg,” Petkovic said.
“However, congratulations to the players. I’m happy with their commitment right up to the 90th minute.”
Uruguay behind ‘persecuted’ Suarez
The Uruguayan FA (AUF) have promised to defend Luis Suarez after FIFA launched a probe into allegations that he had punched a Chilean opponent during a World Cup qualifier.
Argentine referee Nestor Pitana missed the incident during Chile’s 2-0 victory in Santiago on March 26 when Suarez and Gonzalo Jara tussled in the penalty area at a corner.
Uruguayan media reports said Suarez, who plays his club football at Liverpool, reacted after Jara, of Nottingham Forest, grabbed his genitals.
“Once again we feel Suarez is being persecuted by different leagues, mainly the English, and we think this is unjust because it’s a normal action in football,” AUF said.
Lallana signs new Southampton deal
Southampton captain Adam Lallana has signed a new five-year deal at the club.
The midfielder, 24, follows keeper Kelvin Davis, striker Rickie Lambert, as well as mid-fielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Jason Puncheon who have all signed new contracts this year.
Lallana struck his third top-flight goal in last weekend’s win over Reading, which took him to a career total of 50 goals for the club in just over 200 first-team appearances.
Having worked his way up from the youth ranks at South-ampton, Lallana has helped them climb from the third tier to their current position of 11th in the Premier League.