El show de Tiziano Crudeli.

26.10.2011 - “No hace falta estudiar periodismo para ser periodista” es una conocida máxima de Jorge Lanata que cree más loable picotear algo de filosofía y sentido común para hacer buenas preguntas.

Esta (expandida) no colaboración al reconocimiento de la profesión (muchas veces erosionada por el interés empresarial que le da cabida para terminar deformándolo) también se retroalimenta de la imagen de no pocos “periodistas”.

Qué nos queda si consideramos al periodismo deportivo como un apéndice (o especialización) del rubro… las historias de Olé, las payasadas de Horacio Pagani, las sospechas sobre Gastón Recondo o la fama de Marcelo Araujo pueden ser un mínimo mosaico del asunto.

Aquí tenemos un ejemplo importado de Italia: Tiziano Crudeli, veterano periodista deportivo de 68 años, hace de las suyas en la península que vive apasionadamente el fútbol.

Nació en Forli pero a los 12 años (por la prematura muerte de sus padres) se trasladó a Milan donde, después de pasar revista a los pormenores del tenis (gráfica y TV), recaló en el fútbol, agregó la radio y su encendido amor por el Milan.

Pasó por Telereporter, Antena 3 , Tuttosport (redactor), Telelombardia (comentarista), hizo un dúo (del tipo Leto – Costa Febre) con Elio Hornos (interista), escribe en El Día y en la revista Forza Milan mientras “ilumina” las transmisiones de “Siete de Oro” y el programa “Diretta Stadio” (canal 7).

En no pocas descripciones o mini biografías, acaso en honor a la simpatía (?), puede leerse que Tiziano Crudeli “es algo más que un relator italiano. Es un hincha que trasmite las emociones que vive un tifosi del Milan en cada partido de su equipo”.

Según esta particular lectura un periodista deportivo sería menos que un tifosi con micrófono (?).

Aquí el último recorte de sus conocidas performances (micrófono en mano), salido a la luz por el desigual trámite del último partido del Milan visitando al Lecce (Serie A) que conminó al veterano del odio al amor en menos de una hora.

El vigente campeón italiano (ahora en puestos de Europa League) se fue al descanso con tres goles adentro: Giacomazzi (´4), Oddo (´30 penal) y Grossmuller (´37) pusieron al Lecce 3-0.

Pero en el segundo tiempo un hat trick de Kevin Prince Boateng (que reemplazó a Robinho ´46) puso las cosas en empate en 14 minutos y, más tarde, el colombiano Yepes (de cabeza) puso el 3-4 definitivo.

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From Granada to Udine: How to make money in football

Granada CF has always been a humble club. The club of Andalusia has always been a humble club which, even though it enjoyed some more or less successful periods in Primera División during the 40s, 50s and 70s, has always been a so called equipo ascensor, that is "elevator team". One of these clubs that jump from one division to another. Something changed in 2009, when Quique Pina convinced Giampaolo Pozzo, Udinese's owner, to buy shares of the club.

Who is Quique Pina? Quique Pina is a former player of Tercera División teams that had a dream: to have his own football club. In the year 1999, Quique Pina starts from scratch, founding Ciudad de Murcia, a club located in the city of Murcia. The club starts in the lowest division, the Group B of the Territorial Preferente, with four divisions over them. Quique Pina started to show his talent to find interesting players that help the team to get promotions. In only one year, Ciudad de Murcia reached the Tercera División. Quique Pina is able to convince a former Primera División player like Idiakez and other clubs of the province to help to build a squad via loan agreements. The results can not be better and the team promotes to Segunda División B, the Spanish third division. Pina kept reaching similar agreements and in a matter of two years, the club reached the Segunda División. This promotion was significant, since the Segunda División B is not a joke anymore. B teams of the Primera División clubs and historical teams of the Spanish football play in this national division.

Enrique Pina

Ciudad de Murcia only needed two years to promote to Segunda División, leaving in their way historic clubs of the region, like Cartagena FC, and meeting the traditional club of the city, Real Murcia. In this 2004, the situation was weird, Real Murcia holds the love of the local fans, it has been representing the city since 1919 and, suddenly, a new club without fan base and tradition was sharing stadium and division with them. With Real Murcia in serious financial and economic trouble, Ciudad de Murcia becomes a real threat for the traditional club of the region. In these years, the goal is to stay in this division, but they do it wisely. Players like Dani Güiza are signed from important clubs like FC Barcelona to get a name and be sold for important figures in just two years. After two years in Segunda, Quique Pina built a team to promote to Primera División and, in the following two seasons, the team ended up in fourth position, very near the promotion.

In the year 2007, a change in the rules of football allows to sell the position of a club in a certain division. This is the beginning of the contacts of Quique Pina with the city of Granada. Pina sold the club to a Granada businessmen and the club, without fan base (the usual image of the Nueva Condomina was a stadium full of empty seats), changes its name to Granada 74. Without Quique Pina and without the support of the city (in a similar case, this Granada 74 was an experiment, while the love of the city was for Granada CF), the team does not have a future and gets relegated.

Gino Pozzo

The relationship between Quique Pina and the Pozzo family comes from long ago. Gino Pozzo, Giampaolo's son, is a football agent and met Quique Pina in an operation. As a consequence of it, their relationship started and, in these years, Ciudad de Murcia and the Pozzo family reached eventual agreements. Once Pina had left Ciudad de Murcia, he also joined the game of the football market. In the summer of 2007, as an example of it, Pina gives the Pozzo family the chance to sign a couple of Chile players, Alexis Sanchez and Mauricio Isla, at a very good price. The results are so good for both sides, that the contacts grow.

In 2009, Gino Pozzo, who lives in Barcelona, and Quique Pina started to work together in the ownership of a Spanish club. The Pozzo family offered 4M euros to buy RCD Espanyol, although the operation does not work. In the same summer, Lorenzo Sanz, former Real Madrid president, sells his ownership in the historical Granada CF and the Pozzo family sees their chance to put a feet in the Spanish land. The Pozzo's buy Granada CF, placed in Segunda B, to clear their debt. As a result of this operation, Quique Pina gets named administrator of the club.

Udinese & Granada

With the financial help of the Pozzo family and the good eye of Enrique Pina in the lowest divisions, Granada only takes one year to return to Segunda División. It was last summer when the links of Granada and Udinese get more obvious. With the club in Segunda División, Gino and Giampaolo Pozzo consider that Granada would be the perfect test ground of young players with potential to grow in competitive football. Udinese, who are fighting for big goals in the Serie A, have a very competitive squad and the young talented players who are not ready to play with the first team need minutes to grow. Granada is their destination. Players like Alex Geijo, Nyom, Dani Benitez, Jaime Romero and others join the club as platform to grow and as test for them in competitive football. The deal can not be better. As the players gain value with their fantastic performances, the club takes advantage of the support of a top European club to be a power in Segunda División. Only one year again. One year is what Granada needed to return to Primera División for the first time since 1976, 25 years later.

The formula of Quique Pina and the Pozzo family work. Their good eye in football allowed them to but cheap and sell with big revenues, while their clubs remain healthy and successful. While football is a ruin business in all the World, Pina and Pozzo show how things are done in the financial and sport aspects, proving that it is possible to mix success and business.

Tonight, Granada CF receive the visit of FC Barcelona in their home, Los Cármenes, and Udinese Calcio is the leader of Serie A.

Il Rinascimento della Juventus

July 14th, 2006. As a consequence of the Calciopoli affair, the courts decide the administrative relegation of Juventus FC to Serie B. It was a shock, not just in Italy, but in the World of football. Juventus was (and still is) the Italian club with more Scudettos and the only club along with Internazionale FC that had never been relagated to lower divisions. The corruption of their directors threw the club to the international shame, throwing to the garbage decades of prestige and honor.

During the last years, Juventus have lived their toughest moments in their history, at least, in recent history. A year in the hell of Serie B, the return to Serie A, with years of disadvantage with their rivals and flirting with mediocrity and the constant building up, after the loss of the magnificent team they had in 2006. But something started to change back in 2008, when the club decided to build a new stadium in the same lands of the Stadio delle Alpi.

The old home of Juventus never was a real home for them. Some sources claim that the majority of inhabitants of Turin are Torino fans, but it was just not normal to see all the naked concrete and plastic of the stands of the cold and usually empty Delle Alpi. The location out of the city, the cold weather, the bad design (bad vision from the stands, located too far from the pitch due to the athletics track)... one reason in particular or all together at the same time, but Delle Alpi was a very cold place. Too cold for a team of this size and fan base, probably the most important in Italy.

Stadio delle Alpi

Probably the idea of a new stadium was something that was roaming in the heads of the Juve directors since long ago, after Delle Alpi was acquired by the club in 2003, but the execution of this idea was in 2008. Somehow, during all this period, from 2008 to this summer, all Juventus was under construction: squad and stadium. While Internazionale was comfortably winning Scudettos and historical Trebles, while AC Milan also recovered from their sins in the same Calciopoli affair, the club was sowing the seeds of the future.

During the summer, Juventus has been presenting their new faces, their new project. Probably, on paper, they do not seem clear favorites for the title. Internazionale have been the power of the last half decade after the Calciopoli affair and AC Milan are the current winners of the Serie A. The two clubs of Milan still are the favorites among pundits and betting web sites. But there is an intangible factor, an uncertain factor that is in the air already: the Juventus Stadium, the jewel of the present and future of Juventus.

After the beautiful opening ceremony last Thursday, full of symbols, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Italian unification, legendary players and making a tribute for the fallen fans at Heysel, the real test was the first game of the Serie A season. And they surely passed the test. The atmosphere of the Juventus Stadium was unique. Despite the smaller capacity of the stadium (41,000 seats compared with the 69,295 seats of Delle Alpi), the new home of Juventus was warm, with the stands very near the pitch, the fans packing every single corner of their stadium, pushing from their seats with loud chants and a mosaic of flags and scarves. The Vecchia Signora looked younger than ever.

Juventus Stadium

The impact of this new stadium will be huge. In a league where the half empty stadiums with stands too far from the pitch, the atmosphere of the Juventus Stadium blow fresh air into calcio. Definitely, this kind of atmosphere will be a massive help for Juventus, but also an example for the rest of the Italian clubs, who probably envied what they were watching on TV. Perhaps it is not a unique case in Italy, but the fact of Juventus owning their new stadium is an important change in the traditions of the Italian football, since most of the clubs play in stadiums that are under public ownership. As many times in history, Juventus has open new horizons, not just for themselves, but also for the Italian football.

But the most important of all, this new stadium symbolizes the Renaissance of Juventus. The Calciopoli affair belong to the past and Juventus has definitely open a new era of hopes and illusion. The club remained on their feet with the support of their fans, but now they have new reasons of pride. The juventini have a new home, their home. For the first time since 2006, the World of football took a look at Turin and this time it was not to see corruption. This time all the fans of football watched the return of the Old Lady we all remember. Now the season is long and Juventus may win or may not, but lots of us finally thought: They are back. Last weekend, from my couch at home, I could not stop staring at the stands of the Juventus Stadium and neither did the home players, who found inspiration to defeat a terrified Parma. I believe I assisted to Il Rinascimento della Juventus.

The Serie A 2011/2012 season by the fans

In this blog, I will try to pay attention to the most important leagues of Europe and the Italian Serie A definitely is one of them. After the strike of players in Italy and the international break, the season finally starts in Italy.

Last year, AC Milan was able to break the dominance of Internazionale FC and their 5 consecutive titles run after the infamous Calciopoli. In this new season, we will see if the rossoneri will be able to extend their dominance or if their nerazzurri neighbors will be able to get on track again to recover the crown lost after their historical treble. Aside AC Milan and Internazionale FC, which may be the main favorites on paper, Juventus FC, the club with more Scudettos, will keep fighting to fight for a title again after the disastrous season they had last year, showing that they are still paying the effects of Calciopoli. 

Aside the 3 giants, we have to take a look at other classic clubs of the competition, which may be not as favorites for the title, but definitely are classics of the league. Luis Enrique's AS Roma is one of them, the rookie Spanish coach takes his personal experience from the Barcelona youth system to Italy to test his attacking football idea and, of course, in front of them, SS Lazio, managed by Edoardo Reja, who was able to put the team among the best last year after 3 seasons full of frustration.

For the analysis of the new season, I have requested some important posters of the most prestigious football forum in the Internet, xtratime.org,  to give their opinion about the season that is about to start. Here are their opinions:

What do you expect from your club for the Serie A season that is about to start?

jani (AC Milan) - I expect Milan to win the title pretty easily. It doesn't mean that we will. But on paper Milan have gotten stronger, our main competitors Inter have gotten weaker after selling their best striker and I am still not convinced by Napoli or Juventus.

Milan have fixed one of their weakest positions in LB by signing Taiwo and reinforced the central defence with the signing of Mexes who will be expected to partner Serie A's best defender Thiago Silva whenever the legendary Alessandro Nesta is unfit.

Adding to that is the signing of one of Italy's best talents Stephan El Shaarawy who I expect will be a nice surprise for the team. The signing of Aquilani also presents a comfortable element of depth to midfield. Not to forget, the ever elusive "Mr. X" that Milan are chasing. All these transfers and also the maturity of players like Boateng and Pato will immensely contribute to Milan being the Scudetto favorites. Last but not least, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. You are guaranteed a title if you have him in the squad, apparently.

Firdaus (Internazionale FC) - I would expect Inter to finish in the top four. While Inter still has the services of various world class and other quality players, the failure to address the pressing need to strengthen and rejuvenate their squad in the transfer market so far creates a substantial concern for the upcoming season. This is compounded by the fact that Inter's competitors have taken or look to be taking steps to strengthen their squads.

Indestructible (SSC Napoli) - I expect my club Napoli to finish in 3rd or 4th place. While they have made some great moves on the transfer market, they still cannot match the quality of both the Milan clubs. Much of our success last year was down to the goals of Edison Cavani and since we have made not made any new purchases in attack, we are essentially expecting him to repeat his 26 goal season. Our manager's tactics are simple and straight forward and when things don't look good he doesn't have a plan B. This Napoli team is only set up to play one system (3-5-2, 3-4-3)

Anomander Rake (SS Lazio) - It depends on whether we manage to trim the roster by the end of the transfer window, right now it's so bloated it's nigh on unmanageable according to our coach. Anyway, Lazio is too much of Jekyll and Hyde club to make any bold prediction but I see us fighting for an Europa League place, not because we are that good but because neither are the other teams.

Dean Fiori "Deano" (AS Roma) - I am not expecting too much from Roma this season. It is a season of transition for the club, and with a young manager, and many young players signed it will obviously take a while for them to gel. I would be hopeful to finish within the top 5, however top 3, which is what we must get to be in CL next season, will be really difficult to achieve.

I think the problem for this group, is that even if Rome wasn't built in a day, it is not a city of patience. I hope they give this new ownership and trainer a chance, but I fear that they will eventually go against them if the results are not there. This squad must at least finish within the top 5 to keep most happy. I feel sorry for Totti as it is a new start, but in the end he has had his day, and there is now no chance he can be a part of a second scudetto winning squad.

Osman (Juventus FC) - I expect mediocrity, yet again, because we are repeating the same mistakes, but hopefully enough to make a 3rd spot still. You dont need more then mediocrity to do that in Serie A's current state. Like some our new signings for basic foundation building, but in overall still lacking team.

My hope is that, our main competition for 3rd spot, Napoli, will suffer in the league due to juggling CL. Many minor non top team inexperienced teams suffer in league when they venture out to CL for the first time or after long while.

Who do you consider is the main favorite to win the title?

jani (AC Milan) - In order: Milan, Juventus, Inter, Napoli

I've already mentioned why Milan are favorites. But Juventus are expected to be there somewhere when Serie A is finished next May. Their aggressive transfer campaign shows you that they are serious in their bid to return to being one of Italy's elite. One key worry is whether or not Antonio Conte is up to the task of doing so.

Inter have sold Samuel Eto'o for a big sum of money but at the moment seem content with the squad they have and are only targetting to replace their best player with Diego Forlan. A player who is not a difference maker that Eto'o is. Sneijder is also being constantly linked with a move to England which somewhat tells me his heart is not in it. That being said, Inter are Inter and if they keep their current squad and Gasperini somehow gets his weird 3-man defense to work. They will challenge for the title.

Napoli have done well in the market. Their main piece of business for me is not a transfer, but their ability to keep Marek Hamsik. He will be key to their success this season and their midfield will be bolstered by the arrival of one of Serie A's best midfielders of last season Gokhan Inler. Whether or not they can balance European football and Serie A is another question.

Firdaus (Internazionale FC) - Milan would have to be the main favorite. After a strong finish to win the Scudetto last season, Milan look to be able to do more of the same. After gelling well last season, their squad appears to have enough balance, quality and depth to be able to do it all over again.

However, Juventus should not be ruled out. They may have been inconsistent last season but there is enough quality for them to win the Scudetto if other teams do not take full advantage of their opportunities.

Indestructible (SSC Napoli) - I expect Milan to win the title, with Inter right behind them. Teams on the outside looking in would have to be Napoli, Juve and Lazio

Anomander Rake (SS Lazio) - Milan

Dean Fiori (AS Roma) - The favourite has to be Milan once more. They are the only squad to have not really weakened and still found some valuable additions to the current team. They have yet to replace Pirlo in this transfer market, but I am sure by August 31 they will have signed Montolivo or another of this style. Mexes and Taiwo are excellent signings for the defence and they already have a strong attacking squad. Midfield is really the weak point, but this has been a problem for many Serie A teams who go on to win the scudetto. I found that in this league if you have a strong defence and a couple of players capable of being match-winners you are already halfway to the title.

Osman (Juventus FC) - Milan, maybe Inter if they make some late signings, but mainly Milan.

Among the favorites, who do you consider is going to struggle or fail?

jani (AC Milan) - Unless something surprising happens with Allegri and Milan, the one that will struggle will be Juventus. They have spent a lot of money but none of their transfers other than Vidal are convincing. The likes of Vucinic, Lichtsteiner and Ziegler just do not inspire confidence. Also, the fact that one of their key transfers of the summer was to sign Andrea Pirlo, a player who could not get playing time under Allegri tells you something about the quality of their squad in general.

Firdaus (Internazionale FC) - Inter, for the reasons mentioned above and because of valid concerns over Gasperini's widely reported insistence on his 3-4-3 formation in spite of the nature of the squad.

Indestructible (SSC Napoli) - I can see Inter struggling a little simply because they have not made any significant moves on the market. I do not think that Forlan can replace Eto'o (if indeed he does sign with Inter). And players like Lucio, Samuel, Stankovic and Zanetti are not getting any younger. I can see Napoli struggling since this is their first year in CL. Juve can once again struggle since I think that they have not addressed the issues that made them awful last year... weak cb pairing.

Anomander Rake (SS Lazio) - Napoli and Juventus. When a Serie A team makes it to the CL against the odds they usually struggle the next season, while Juventus just seems grossly mismanaged. Then again, this might be just wishful thinking.

Dean Fiori "Deano" (AS Roma) - Who do you count as a favourite in Italy these days? I think A.C Milan is the genuinely only quality team from this league right now, and in fact I do like how Napoli have kept the same group, but just added some great players.

So below them, I think both Inter and Juve will struggle to make an impact compared to their expectation. Though Juve have signed some good players, they still have not solved most of their problems. Conte promises to play a kind-of 4-2-4, which is what already killed Juventus last season. 4-3-3 is the best team they could play with their squad, but anyway they still need to sign a quality CB, then maybe I can consider them as getting their ultimate aim for this season which is top 3.

With Inter they have a new manager, who I dislike anyway, and they have (or about to) sold probably their best player of last season, Eto'o. The biggest problem though is that the new manager will insist on 3-4-3 for his life, and yet he will be playing out of the comfort zones for most of his players. I can understand the back 3, but I can never understand 3 forwards on top of that with Sneijder in the central midfield. They will be too open this season, and also I remember some of the Genoa games, this formation doesnt really work and I feel we have already seen this in pre-season. I could see Gasperini getting sacked by Christmas.

Osman (Juventus FC) - Inter more likely then Milan, losing Eto'o will hurt them alot.


About the European competitions, who is your favorite to win the UEFA Champions League?

jani (AC Milan) - Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Firdaus (Internazionale FC) - Is this a trick question? Barça, of course!

Indestructible (SSC Napoli) - Barcelona will once again win the CL. There is not a team in Europe that can match them techincally.

Anomander Rake (SS Lazio) - Barcelona. It's time some team manages to repeat their CL title.

Dean Fiori "Deano" (AS Roma) - It may probably sound boring to say it, but it has to be Barcelona. Is there really a point for me to expand on my prediction? Well all I can say is they have the best players, they have the backbone of the World and European National team champions with some of the best creative players on top of that. Even more frightening is they signed 2 of the world's best players and they have strengthened.

However, we do know that it is really difficult to defend your European title, so it has to be said that no team is really that unbeatable. If Barcelona stutter then I think it would be to an EPL team, and who knows, I think Chelsea will go all out for this trophy as alot of the players are now in their final years.

Osman (Juventus FC) - Simple, Barça.

And your favorites for La Liga and the Premier League?

jani (AC Milan) - Same as above. [Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United]

Firdaus (Internazionale FC) - Barça for La Liga, without hesitation. For the EPL, the favorites would be the ever-reliable Manchester United. Their records over previous seasons speak for themselves. In addition, the recent transfer activity of both teams look to assure themselves of more silverware.

Indestructible (SSC Napoli) - Both Barcelona and Man U will repeat this year

Anomander Rake (SS Lazio) - Barcelona and Manchester Utd.

Dean Fiori "Deano" (AS Roma) - Well if I think Barcelona will win the Champions League it is obvious my prediction for La Liga will also be them. Real Madrid will once again improve, but I think just not enough yet.

In the Premier League, I can see Man City going on to win the title this season, Tevez or not. I think its already clear that Dzeko has improved with his half season and looks ready to get close to 20 goals while Aguero is just of this world and could well be the signing of the summer from any team in the world. If Mancini can maybe be more positive when it really counts (as this is not the Serie A I was talking about earlier, positivity wins EPL's not just having a great defence and a match-winner) Man City have a great shot at winning this EPL.

Osman (Juventus FC) - Also simple, Barça and Manchester United.

Disclaimer: These interviews were done a couple of weeks ago and the transfer window had not closed yet.

Once again, I would like to say thanks to all the Xtratime forum members who helped me to make the first analysis of the season. Thanks for all, guys! You are great!

Huelga de jugadores aplaza el inicio de la Serie A (Italia).

26.08.2011 - Mientras seguía trabado el inicio de la temporada de la Liga española, se hablaba del efecto espejo en la Serie A de Italia.

La Liga (española) destrabó (provisoriamente) su inicio después de firmar un documento que contempla continuadas negociaciones bajo 3 aspectos fundamentales:

1. La creación de un nuevo fondo salarial -no se ha especificado la cifra-. La AFE aportará un porcentaje de ese fondo que posteriormente le será devuelta por los propios futbolistas en el plazo de cuatro años.

2. La resolución de contrato en plazo abreviado para aquellos jugadores que lleven tres meses sin cobrar.

3. Garantías de que cobrarán su nómina aquellos futbolistas pertenecientes a clubes que desciendan de categoría.

Pero acabado el anuncio del inicio liguero en España, cayó la noticia de huelga en Italia. El anuncio fue hecho por Damiano Tommasi, ex jugador que preside la AIC (Asociación de Futbolistas Italianos): “La primera jornada de la Serie A no se juega. Lo hemos intentado hasta el final, pero todo ha sido en vano”.

Los jugadores de la Primera División italiana acordaron este viernes la convocatoria de una huelga para la primera jornada de Liga, ante la negativa de los clubes a firmar la renovación del convenio colectivo de los futbolistas.

El presidente de la Asociación de Futbolistas Italianos (AIC), Damiano Tommasi, anunció la convocatoria de esta huelga tras tres días de intensas negociaciones entre las partes para evitar el aplazamiento del comienzo del campeonato liguero, previsto para este fin de semana.

La decisión de los jugadores llega después de que la Liga italiana, que incluye a los clubes de primera división, rechazara las propuestas avanzadas tanto por la Federación de Fútbol (FIGC) como por los propios jugadores, que pretendían asegurar el comienzo del campeonato.

La Liga sigue negándose a ratificar un convenio colectivo que no contemple las exigencias de los clubes italianos respecto al pago del llamado "impuesto de solidaridad" por parte de los jugadores y a la absoluta autonomía del equipo técnico a la hora de decidir cómo se desarrollan los entrenamientos del plantel.

En un principio, el principal punto de desencuentro entre jugadores y entidades fue precisamente el artículo 7 del convenio, por el que la Liga Serie A establecía la posibilidad de que el equipo técnico de los clubes decidiera unilateralmente que un jugador se entrenase por separado del resto del plantel. Una medida que se topó con la oposición de la AIC, que consideraba que podría llevar a "discriminaciones".

A este punto de confrontación se sumó la introducción en los últimos días del impuesto de solidaridad, incluido en el último plan de ajuste presupuestario del Gobierno de Silvio Berlusconi y que todavía no ha sido ratificado en el Parlamento, que contempla tasar con un 5 % adicional las rentas superiores a 90.000 euros y con 10 % las que excedan los 150.000 euros.La disputa en este caso se centraba en ver quién debe asumir el costo de este impuesto.

De nada sirvió la propuesta "in extremis" de Tommasi, presentada esta misma mañana, en la que se planteaba la posibilidad de firmar un "contrato-puente" hasta el 30 de junio de 2012 que garantice el funcionamiento normal del campeonato y paralelamente permita seguir negociando las exigencias de los clubes, como hicieron en España.

El presidente de la Liga italiana, Maurizio Beretta, explicó que el organismo al que representa solo puede suscribir un acuerdo con el resto de las partes si éste contiene los dos puntos en discusión: el impuesto de solidaridad y los entrenamientos separados de algunos jugadores de la plantilla.

Tampoco fueron aceptadas las iniciativas del presidente de la FIGC, Giancarlo Abete, que ayer propuso la creación de un fondo de garantía de 20 millones de euros para apoyar a aquellas entidades que tuvieran problemas con sus jugadores en lo que se refiere al pago del impuesto de solidaridad.

La Serie A no empieza (aún).

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Reestructuración AFA: por qué el proyecto, por qué el stand by.

El matutino y caminante porteño se encontró hoy con el clásico y primer pantallazo informativo a través de las tapas de los diarios: “AFA”, “torneos”, “gobierno” y “Ríver”. Más allá de tendencias y tonos catástrofes, el porteño (cada porteño) ya tiene su tesis.

TORNEO FEDERAL

27.07.2011 - Fotos: Wilde / Texto: Calígula

Suena Ríver, el teórico beneficiado al que podría quedarle el estigma de “nunca ascendiste” o peor, “sos de la B”.

Ríver, que podría venirse en contra como el enano que envió una carta documento al gobierno francés por privarlo de su derecho al trabajo cuando aquél prohibió el lanzamiento de enanos en los bares.

Daniel Passarella sabía que la cocina estaba humeando apenas consumado el propio descenso. Incluso Grondona daba avisos desde 2010. No sé si Passarella imaginaba tanto.

Sabía sí, que revalorizado el Nacional B con la presencia de Ríver, el Gobierno estaría inquieto. La gran paradoja de Ríver (junto a Central, Gimnasia, Huracán más Quilmes) televisado por TSC (Clarín + Torneos y Competencias) y una Primera A devaluada y sin clásicos, después de la cruda batalla vivida por los derechos no sería fácilmente digerida en la calle Balcarce.

Haciendo uso de su técnica, Julio Grondona lanzó el paquete camuflado con el “inédito” despido del DT de la selección (o viceversa) y como frutilla del postre, habilitó a Horacio Gennari a publicar el lanzamiento de AFA TV.

Fue mucho. Y si a eso le sumamos el infortunio del vocero (AFA) Cherquis Bialo ("si River no descendía, seguro no hubiera pasado esto") más los declarantes dirigentes del Comité que ventilaron la falta de tiempo para votar una propuesta que “venía a cambio de la duplicación de fondos estatales ($ 1200 millones)”, el barco corre serios riesgos de encallar aun con los manejos mediático – grondonianos expuestos.

La traza está clara. El entrenador de la selección será reemplazado, el campeonato argentino será reformulado, AFA TV siembra raíces independientes (de televisación) hacia la HD paga y… Ríver?

Otra vez, acaso el gobierno confundió rapidez con desprolijidad o delegó demasiado en la muñeca de Don Julio. Quizá el hecho de intercalar medidas coyunturales (de débil sustentación) en un proyecto (más largo) restó más de lo esperado. Falla programática y en vísperas eleccionarias: grave error.

Por eso la AFA acaba de publicar su comunicado oficial poniendo, virtualmente, la restructuración organizativa de los torneos en stand by (hasta después de las elecciones de octubre 2011).

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Serie A de Argentina.

26.07.2011 - “El Comité Ejecutivo aprobó, con 22 votos a favor, 4 abstenciones y la ausencia del club Olimpo de Bahía Blanca, enviar a la asamblea que sesionará el 18 de octubre, un nuevo formato de disputa del campeonato de fútbol de primera división”, reza el escueto comunicado de la Dirección de Medios y Comunicación de la AFA.

Los representantes de Rácing Club, Vélez Sársfield, All Boys y Newells Old Boys fueron los cuatro que se abstuvieron de votar la iniciativa, mientras que los representantes de Olimpo (Bahía Blanca) faltaron a la cita.

Según la revista Veintitrés, el tema surgió durante la cena de presentación de la Copa América, en el Salón Pacífico del Hotel Hilton. Allí, un abogado vinculado a Daniel Passarella y otro que trabaja en la AFA le presentaron esta idea de un torneo de 40 equipos al presidente Julio Grondona, que siempre según esta publicación, habría respondido que “no había tiempo” para hacerlo ahora.

Si bien el formato del nuevo torneo está en plena etapa de estudio, la “federalización” encomendada desde el Gobierno Nacional y el próximo lanzamiento de AFA TV se conjugan con algunos datos aproximados sobre el asunto que será tratado definitivamente en la asamblea del próximo 18 de octubre (2011), habiendo posibilidades de reformas hasta 30 días antes.

1. El nuevo torneo iniciaría en agosto de 2012 para la temporada anual 2012 – 2013.

2. Se fusionarían las dos primeras categorías del fútbol argentino: Primera División (A) y B Nacional.

3. Desaparecería el sistema de promedios para volver a los descensos directos.

4. Se habla de un total de 40 equipos (20 de Primera y 20 de la B Nacional) y de 38: los 20 de Primera más 16 de la B Nacional (con 4 descensos) más 1 ascenso de la Primera B, más 1 ascenso del Argentino A.

5. Se jugaría en dos etapas semestrales: una primera etapa (agosto – diciembre 2012) en el que los 40 o 38 equipos se dividirían en 5 grupos (con los denominados grandes como cabeza de serie) en las que cada equipo enfrentaría a sus rivales de grupo y habría lugar para los clásicos (interzonales).

6. La segunda etapa (enero – julio 2013) se dividiría en dos zonas: Campeonato (los 4 primeros de cada grupo) y Permanencia (los 4 últimos de cada grupo).

7. Ambas zonas se jugarían a rueda única (19 fechas). La zona Campeonato tendría su sistema clasificatorio copero (Libertadores) y un campeón. La zona Permanencia daría un clasificado a la Copa Sudamericana (el ganador) y 4 descensos (2 por promedio y 2 directos).

8. La temporada que inicia el 07.08.2011 se jugará tal cuál se conoce hasta el momento con el agregado de que se anularían los descensos (Primera A).

Zárate erra el cachetazo y le da al juez de línea.

24.01.2011 - Era el momento para que la Lazio (37) se prendiera de la cola del Milan (puntero con 44) como hizo el Nápoli de Pocho Lavezzi (40). 

Lazio visitaba a Bologna y Edy Reja (DT) decidió comenzar el partido con Mauro Zárate en el banco (después de 3 partidos como titular). Sin embargo, la mala forma física que había denotado en el argentino quedó olvidada cuando el partido empezó a complicarse.

Lazio ganaba (1-0) con un tempranero gol de Floccari pero en tres minutos (´36 y ´39) Bologna lo dio vuelta. Entonces, al minuto siguiente (´40), Reja pone a Zárate en cancha (x Giuseppe Sculli) para levantar el score.

No sucedió. Lazio buscó pero no dejó de chocar contra el cerrojo bolognés hasta que, a 4 minutos del final, Maurito Zárate le tiró un pelotazo a la nuca de Matteo Rubin (Bologna) y empezó el asunto que se expandió en gresca como aureola de agua entre los dos equipos. 

En la confusión, Maurito tira una mano que viene a dar en la cara de Nicola Stefani (juez de línea).

Para cerrar el partido, Di Vaio pone el 3-1 de Bologna en el minuto 90, deja a Lazio retrasado (7 puntos) de la cola de Milan y a Mauro Zárate con la módica condena de 3 partidos de suspensión.

El árbitro Gianluca Rocchi en su informe no hizo especificación a la responsabilidad de Zárate, pero la aplicación de la "prueba de TV" (Tribunal de Disciplina) dejó breve margen para la justificación de Maurito que, de ríspida relación con Edy Reja (DT), es sondeado por algunos otros equipos europeos.

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