Cagliari set to appeal punishment

Cagliari are set to appeal against the 3-0 walkover victory handed to Roma after Sunday's Serie A game was cancelled.

Last Updated: 25/09/12 at 18:39 Post Comment   

Cagliari: Handed 3-0 walkover defeat against Roma

Cagliari: Handed 3-0 walkover defeat against Roma

Cagliari are set to appeal against the 3-0 walkover victory handed to Roma after Sunday's Serie A game was cancelled in controversial circumstances.

On Saturday, club president Massimo Cellino defied local authority orders to exclude fans from the Is Arenas due to ongoing safety concerns, instead instructing season-ticket holders to flock to the new Quartu Sant'Elena stadium regardless.

As a result, the Cagliari Prefecture and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) called the match off and awarded Roma an automatic 3-0 win with FIGC president Giancarlo Abete branding Cellino's behaviour "unacceptable".

But on Tuesday Rossoblu director general Francesco Marroccu pledged his support to the Miami-based president, who also served on the council of the now-defunct Lega Calcio.

Quoted in the Gazzetta dello Sport, Marroccu told reporters: "We want to send a message of solidarity to president Cellino and urge him to continue his battle.

"We want to make clear that the directors would never let ourselves be represented by someone who does not respect the rules.

"Our club has never been involved with match-fixing scandals or false passports, but now that seems to have been forgotten.

"I had the opportunity to attend Lega meetings with the president and I can confirm that great respect emanates from a person who has done a lot for football, always in full respect of the rules and authorities.

"The president has been attacked by everybody and, because of what happened in one day, Cagliari are seen as a band of thieves and that's not fair.

"I also want to express my support for the team and the coach who are going through a difficult time."

The league were able to impose such a punishment on Cagliari by referring to Article 17 of the Federcalcio rule book.

It reads: "Clubs are responsible for the fact that any acts interrupting the smooth running of a game can be punished with the loss of that match with a scoreline of 0-3 awarded."

After Monday's decision was reached, the league explained their position, saying: "The resolution is to sanction Cagliari with the loss of the match with a score of 0-3 (zero to three), also providing the transmission of a copy of the records to the Federal Attorney General of jurisdiction over the conduct of the President of the Company."

The Sardinian club's lawyer, Mattia Grassani, also sought to convey Cellino's determination to reverse the league's decision.

He told the Corriere dello Sport: "I've spoken at length with the president and he's fiercely determined to defend himself and explain what happened.

"It's important to clarify the context of the club's declaration on Saturday afternoon.

"The president also told me that, so he could best offer an explanation and clarify (the situation), he will come to Italy as soon as possible."

While the club's hierarchy deal with the fall-out from Sunday's unprecedented events, Massimo Ficcadenti and his players turn their attentions to facing AC Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday night.

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