Serie A
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Sexyfootball
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Congrats to Napoli. Koulibaly must be gutted LOL
Napoli win Serie A for first time in 33 years to spark street party
www.bbc.co.uk
4 May 2023
The city of Naples was transformed into an epic street party.
Roads were filled with people singing, dancing and hugging one another, while children played football around them. People jumped in fountains in jubilation, while others waved huge Napoli flags as they darted about on their scooters.
The reason? On Thursday, Napoli became the champions of Italy.
As soon as the final whistle was blown in their game at Udinese, with Napoli's 1-1 draw enough to clinch the Serie A title, hundreds of people crammed together in piazzas, singing of their joy.
"We have one dream in our heart. For Naples to become champions again!" rang round the city, for that dream has now come true.
Many Napoli fans watched the match via big screens at their own Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
"I have been crying. This is a historic moment," Edoardo Nappa says.
The 13-year-old is part of a new generation too young to remember the glory days of Diego Maradona - the legendary maverick who delivered two Serie A titles to the city when he was Napoli captain.
"To be able to experience this, to live this myself for the first time… it's magical. It's a historic moment for Naples."
It wasn't only locals who were partying; people from all over Italy and countries including France, Spain and the UK travelled to Naples to soak up the spectacle.
Naples lives and breathes football. The whole city has been decorated in readiness for the party: blue and white flags and festoons hang above the narrow streets. Life-size cardboard cutouts have popped up in the city centre. There are cakes, pastries, drinks, ice creams dedicated to the players.
"It feels like the world has stopped here," says Amelia Bufi, a university student who travelled from Rome to celebrate the victory.
"This party is going to go on for at least a month. It's going to last through the summer. It's an amazing feeling: Neapolitans put love in everything they do, including football."
Edoardo Nappa and family pictured next to tributes to former Napoli player Diego Maradona
A party planned for three decades
This is a party 33 years in the making. The last time Napoli won the Serie A title was 1990 - when Maradona was captain.
The Argentine's influence can still be felt in the city. His face is painted on bar windows, bumper stickers and billboards. A giant mural of him towers above a shrine dedicated to him. And above it is a sign that says 'Dios' - the Spanish word for God.
Many have this week been gathering around his shrine to lay flowers and light candles. Some have had tears in their eyes.
For Neapolitans, football is almost a religious experience.
"It goes even beyond religion," says Bufi. "What we are doing here is like a ritual. We are praying for Diego Maradona, as if he were a saint. It's crazy and I love it."
Maradona, who died in 2020, gave Neapolitans a great sense of belonging.
"He was a man that was full of vices but at the same time poetic and majestic in what he did best," says European football expert Mina Rzouki.
"And that is very much something that resonates with Neapolitans."
Fireworks lit the night sky in Naples as supporters celebrated their team's long-awaited league title
Memories of glory days were fading
After Maradona delivered his second title for Napoli more than three decades ago, the team could not sustain the success. They had financial struggles, went bankrupt and were demoted to Serie C - the lowest league of the professional divisions.
The turning point came in 2004: film producer Aurelio de Laurentiis bought the club.
"He created a team that is wonderful to watch," Rzouki says.
"He knew he could depend on the unconditional love of an entire city, on a fan base that is so devoted. So under him, Napoli grew."
And yet, Napoli couldn't replicate the success of 1990 and win the title.
"The deep pressure of playing in a city that lives football to a degree that is so unimaginable… it can be a lot. It can become suffocating to be in a city that is so devoted to their success," says Rzouki.
Revenge of the underdogs
This win is about so much more than football. It's a symbol of the inequality between Italy's wealthy north and the poorer south.
"Young Neapolitans are often forced to emigrate to northern Italy in search of a job and a better life," says Napoli Today journalist Franco Romano.
"And so for them, winning the league is a form of social revenge against the superpowers of the north."
"To win the league anywhere south of Rome is like winning 10 trophies in Milan or Turin," says another fan, Enrico.
Neapolitans still endure hostile taunts from their northern rivals about crime, poverty and even cholera outbreaks.
"If you were born in Naples, football is part of your blood," says Gaetano, who is dressed head-to-toe in football kit. "Our blood is [Napoli] blue, it's not red."
One of the thousands of Neapolitans who has moved to Milan to find work, he travelled to Naples with his whole family to experience this moment. He wants to share his passion for football with them.
"It's something that comes from the heart. I've been waiting 33 years for this win. I am full of emotion, of passion, of faith… words cannot explain what I'm feeling."
A consecration of Naples
When Naples won the league thanks to Maradona, the city had been destroyed by a violent earthquake a few years previously.
"The city was struggling. Poverty was everywhere," says Massimo Romano.
"The win with Maradona represented a rebirth for Naples after a time of extreme difficulty."
But things are very different now.
"Naples still has a lot of problems, but it's become a European city with lots of tourists, one that is well known outside of Italy," adds Romano.
For a city that is so devoted to its football team, this is a day that will be cherished for years to come.
"Today's victory represents the consecration to a success that Naples has been experiencing for several years."
There were happy tears in Naples after Napoli ended their long wait for a league title
www.bbc.co.uk
4 May 2023
The city of Naples was transformed into an epic street party.
Roads were filled with people singing, dancing and hugging one another, while children played football around them. People jumped in fountains in jubilation, while others waved huge Napoli flags as they darted about on their scooters.
The reason? On Thursday, Napoli became the champions of Italy.
As soon as the final whistle was blown in their game at Udinese, with Napoli's 1-1 draw enough to clinch the Serie A title, hundreds of people crammed together in piazzas, singing of their joy.
"We have one dream in our heart. For Naples to become champions again!" rang round the city, for that dream has now come true.
Many Napoli fans watched the match via big screens at their own Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
"I have been crying. This is a historic moment," Edoardo Nappa says.
The 13-year-old is part of a new generation too young to remember the glory days of Diego Maradona - the legendary maverick who delivered two Serie A titles to the city when he was Napoli captain.
"To be able to experience this, to live this myself for the first time… it's magical. It's a historic moment for Naples."
It wasn't only locals who were partying; people from all over Italy and countries including France, Spain and the UK travelled to Naples to soak up the spectacle.
Naples lives and breathes football. The whole city has been decorated in readiness for the party: blue and white flags and festoons hang above the narrow streets. Life-size cardboard cutouts have popped up in the city centre. There are cakes, pastries, drinks, ice creams dedicated to the players.
"It feels like the world has stopped here," says Amelia Bufi, a university student who travelled from Rome to celebrate the victory.
"This party is going to go on for at least a month. It's going to last through the summer. It's an amazing feeling: Neapolitans put love in everything they do, including football."
Edoardo Nappa and family pictured next to tributes to former Napoli player Diego Maradona
A party planned for three decades
This is a party 33 years in the making. The last time Napoli won the Serie A title was 1990 - when Maradona was captain.
The Argentine's influence can still be felt in the city. His face is painted on bar windows, bumper stickers and billboards. A giant mural of him towers above a shrine dedicated to him. And above it is a sign that says 'Dios' - the Spanish word for God.
Many have this week been gathering around his shrine to lay flowers and light candles. Some have had tears in their eyes.
For Neapolitans, football is almost a religious experience.
"It goes even beyond religion," says Bufi. "What we are doing here is like a ritual. We are praying for Diego Maradona, as if he were a saint. It's crazy and I love it."
Maradona, who died in 2020, gave Neapolitans a great sense of belonging.
"He was a man that was full of vices but at the same time poetic and majestic in what he did best," says European football expert Mina Rzouki.
"And that is very much something that resonates with Neapolitans."
Fireworks lit the night sky in Naples as supporters celebrated their team's long-awaited league title
Memories of glory days were fading
After Maradona delivered his second title for Napoli more than three decades ago, the team could not sustain the success. They had financial struggles, went bankrupt and were demoted to Serie C - the lowest league of the professional divisions.
The turning point came in 2004: film producer Aurelio de Laurentiis bought the club.
"He created a team that is wonderful to watch," Rzouki says.
"He knew he could depend on the unconditional love of an entire city, on a fan base that is so devoted. So under him, Napoli grew."
And yet, Napoli couldn't replicate the success of 1990 and win the title.
"The deep pressure of playing in a city that lives football to a degree that is so unimaginable… it can be a lot. It can become suffocating to be in a city that is so devoted to their success," says Rzouki.
Revenge of the underdogs
This win is about so much more than football. It's a symbol of the inequality between Italy's wealthy north and the poorer south.
"Young Neapolitans are often forced to emigrate to northern Italy in search of a job and a better life," says Napoli Today journalist Franco Romano.
"And so for them, winning the league is a form of social revenge against the superpowers of the north."
"To win the league anywhere south of Rome is like winning 10 trophies in Milan or Turin," says another fan, Enrico.
Neapolitans still endure hostile taunts from their northern rivals about crime, poverty and even cholera outbreaks.
"If you were born in Naples, football is part of your blood," says Gaetano, who is dressed head-to-toe in football kit. "Our blood is [Napoli] blue, it's not red."
One of the thousands of Neapolitans who has moved to Milan to find work, he travelled to Naples with his whole family to experience this moment. He wants to share his passion for football with them.
"It's something that comes from the heart. I've been waiting 33 years for this win. I am full of emotion, of passion, of faith… words cannot explain what I'm feeling."
A consecration of Naples
When Naples won the league thanks to Maradona, the city had been destroyed by a violent earthquake a few years previously.
"The city was struggling. Poverty was everywhere," says Massimo Romano.
"The win with Maradona represented a rebirth for Naples after a time of extreme difficulty."
But things are very different now.
"Naples still has a lot of problems, but it's become a European city with lots of tourists, one that is well known outside of Italy," adds Romano.
For a city that is so devoted to its football team, this is a day that will be cherished for years to come.
"Today's victory represents the consecration to a success that Naples has been experiencing for several years."
There were happy tears in Naples after Napoli ended their long wait for a league title
Torino won 1-0 at Verona.
Napoli went down 2-0 at Monza. Probably still celebrating the title win though!
Fiorentina won 2-0 at home to Udinese.
AC Milan went down 2-0 to Spezia
Inter won 4-2 at home against Sassulo
Lazio drew 2-2 with Lecce.
Napoli went down 2-0 at Monza. Probably still celebrating the title win though!
Fiorentina won 2-0 at home to Udinese.
AC Milan went down 2-0 to Spezia
Inter won 4-2 at home against Sassulo
Lazio drew 2-2 with Lecce.
Juventus docked 10 points in Serie A at new hearing into transfer dealings
www.bbc.co.uk
This has just been reported.
Juventus have been docked 10 points following a new hearing into the club's past transfer dealings.
Juve were initially handed a 15-point penalty in January but Italy's highest sporting court overturned that decision in April and ordered the case to be re-examined.
The new ruling was announced on Monday, before the team's game away to Empoli.
The penalty drops Juve to seventh place in Serie A, outside the European qualification spots.
Napoli have already secured the Serie A title and, before Monday's ruling, were 17 points ahead of second-placed Juve.
In April, a tribunal at Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) revoked Juve's 15-point penalty from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) appeals court.
It asked the appeals court to revise punishments to the club and some key figures, including former vice-chairman Pavel Nedved.
Long bans given to former chairman Andrea Agnelli, ex-chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene and sporting directors Federico Cherubini and Fabio Paratici have now been upheld.
A Juventus statement said that the club "takes note" of the decision and "reserves the right to read the reasons to evaluate a possible appeal" to CONI.
It added: "What was established by the fifth instance of judgment in this matter, which began more than a year ago, arouses great bitterness in the club and in its millions of supporters who, in the absence of clear rules, find themselves extremely penalised with the application of sanctions that seem to take into account the principle of proportionality.
"While not ignoring the need for urgency, which Juventus has never shied away from during the proceedings, it is emphasised that these are facts that still have to be evaluated by a judge."
If Juve beat Empoli, they will be two points behind AC Milan, who occupy the final Champions League spot, with two games to play.
The club is also involved in criminal proceedings over its accounting practices, with 12 current and former officials, including Agnelli, potentially facing trial.
According to Italian news agencies, a high court hearing on 26 October will decide whether any eventual trial will be held in Turin, where the investigation has taken place, or in either Milan or Rome.
Why have Juventus been docked points?
The Old Lady were handed a points deduction after an investigation into the club's past transfer dealings spanning two years from 2019 to 2021 by the FIGC.
Juventus were accused of fixing their balance sheets by artificial gains of around 60m euros from club transfers, charges they were found guilty of by the FIGC's appeals court in January.
The club, however, denied any wrongdoing and took their case to a tribunal at the Olympic Committee, Italy's highest sporting court.
The tribunal did not rule on the merits of the case but instead examined the legal legitimacy of the punishments handed out by the FIGC to the club and directors.
Juventus were among several Serie A clubs acquitted of suspect transfer activity by an FIGC appeals court trial last year but the investigation into the club was reopened due to new evidence from a separate criminal probe into their finances.
The initial 15-point sanction was tougher than the nine-point deduction prosecutors had requested, and the club hoped no points deduction would be applied once the case had been re-examined.
Who are the individuals involved?
Agnelli and the rest of the club's board, including former midfielder Nedved, stepped down in November while the investigation was taking place.
At the time, a statement said the resignations were "considered to be in the best social interest to recommend that Juventus equip itself with a new board of directors to address these issues".
The chairman had presided over the club for 13 years, during which time Juventus won nine successive Serie A titles and reached two Champions League finals.
But last year they made a £220m loss - a record for an Italian club.
Agnelli and Arrivabene were banned from Italian football for two years, with Nedved receiving an eight-month suspension.
Cherubini and Paratici were suspended domestically for 16 months and two and a half years respectively.
Paratici left the club to become managing director at Tottenham before January's ruling but his suspension was extended worldwide by Fifa in March.
Juventus are also facing an investigation from Uefa, European football's governing body, over potential breaches of its club licensing and financial fair play regulations, which was announced in March.
www.bbc.co.uk
This has just been reported.
Juventus have been docked 10 points following a new hearing into the club's past transfer dealings.
Juve were initially handed a 15-point penalty in January but Italy's highest sporting court overturned that decision in April and ordered the case to be re-examined.
The new ruling was announced on Monday, before the team's game away to Empoli.
The penalty drops Juve to seventh place in Serie A, outside the European qualification spots.
Napoli have already secured the Serie A title and, before Monday's ruling, were 17 points ahead of second-placed Juve.
In April, a tribunal at Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) revoked Juve's 15-point penalty from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) appeals court.
It asked the appeals court to revise punishments to the club and some key figures, including former vice-chairman Pavel Nedved.
Long bans given to former chairman Andrea Agnelli, ex-chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene and sporting directors Federico Cherubini and Fabio Paratici have now been upheld.
A Juventus statement said that the club "takes note" of the decision and "reserves the right to read the reasons to evaluate a possible appeal" to CONI.
It added: "What was established by the fifth instance of judgment in this matter, which began more than a year ago, arouses great bitterness in the club and in its millions of supporters who, in the absence of clear rules, find themselves extremely penalised with the application of sanctions that seem to take into account the principle of proportionality.
"While not ignoring the need for urgency, which Juventus has never shied away from during the proceedings, it is emphasised that these are facts that still have to be evaluated by a judge."
If Juve beat Empoli, they will be two points behind AC Milan, who occupy the final Champions League spot, with two games to play.
The club is also involved in criminal proceedings over its accounting practices, with 12 current and former officials, including Agnelli, potentially facing trial.
According to Italian news agencies, a high court hearing on 26 October will decide whether any eventual trial will be held in Turin, where the investigation has taken place, or in either Milan or Rome.
Why have Juventus been docked points?
The Old Lady were handed a points deduction after an investigation into the club's past transfer dealings spanning two years from 2019 to 2021 by the FIGC.
Juventus were accused of fixing their balance sheets by artificial gains of around 60m euros from club transfers, charges they were found guilty of by the FIGC's appeals court in January.
The club, however, denied any wrongdoing and took their case to a tribunal at the Olympic Committee, Italy's highest sporting court.
The tribunal did not rule on the merits of the case but instead examined the legal legitimacy of the punishments handed out by the FIGC to the club and directors.
Juventus were among several Serie A clubs acquitted of suspect transfer activity by an FIGC appeals court trial last year but the investigation into the club was reopened due to new evidence from a separate criminal probe into their finances.
The initial 15-point sanction was tougher than the nine-point deduction prosecutors had requested, and the club hoped no points deduction would be applied once the case had been re-examined.
Who are the individuals involved?
Agnelli and the rest of the club's board, including former midfielder Nedved, stepped down in November while the investigation was taking place.
At the time, a statement said the resignations were "considered to be in the best social interest to recommend that Juventus equip itself with a new board of directors to address these issues".
The chairman had presided over the club for 13 years, during which time Juventus won nine successive Serie A titles and reached two Champions League finals.
But last year they made a £220m loss - a record for an Italian club.
Agnelli and Arrivabene were banned from Italian football for two years, with Nedved receiving an eight-month suspension.
Cherubini and Paratici were suspended domestically for 16 months and two and a half years respectively.
Paratici left the club to become managing director at Tottenham before January's ruling but his suspension was extended worldwide by Fifa in March.
Juventus are also facing an investigation from Uefa, European football's governing body, over potential breaches of its club licensing and financial fair play regulations, which was announced in March.
Term_X
First Team Regular
- Messages
- 2,244
- Reaction score
- 1,834
It’s a shame what’s going on in Naples now, seasons not even over yet and the manager is off, chief scout has been poached by Juve and despite the owner being fairly proficient in keeping the team together, he faces a monumental task at holding onto the likes of Kim & Osimhen especially. Fair play to Spalletti though, 64 years old.. gave it everything and reached the pinnacle, leave on a high at that age.. if he was in his 40’s/50’s you’d question it though.
I think they’ll keep hold of Kvaratskhelia, his form faded towards the end of the season and most top teams (who could afford him) have the LW position already accounted for.
I think they’ll keep hold of Kvaratskhelia, his form faded towards the end of the season and most top teams (who could afford him) have the LW position already accounted for.
strider6004
Legend
- Messages
- 13,786
- Reaction score
- 4,998
Interesting read on Mourinho at Roma.
Drives a Vespa.
Wears a Microphone for making sure officials don't bend the truth.
If Roma win tonight they qualify for the Champions league if not he is expected to leave as their league form is not good enough.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65755507
Drives a Vespa.
Wears a Microphone for making sure officials don't bend the truth.
If Roma win tonight they qualify for the Champions league if not he is expected to leave as their league form is not good enough.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65755507
Term_X
First Team Regular
- Messages
- 2,244
- Reaction score
- 1,834
It’s an ‘almost’ for me, nice the red Lette sponsor is finally gone but that collar just doesn’t look right, would have been far better in white like the leaked version.
This away shirt is better for sure, especially with the Naples background
3rd kit just ok.
Last edited by a moderator:
ChelseaMileyCraig
New Signing
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 10
Roma new kit is nice. They will have a good season.
Term_X
First Team Regular
- Messages
- 2,244
- Reaction score
- 1,834
I like it.. but it will take time not to look at it and not think of Spain national team kits
Nice kit, and incredibly moody pic! At first glance guy on the right has an impressive man-bun meets something about Mary look as well! Just a column thoughThe A.S. Roma home kit for 2023/24.
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