Champions League Final may disrupt Serie A schedule

By: Francesco | May 7th, 2009

As everyone may know by now, this year’s Champions League final on May 27 between Manchester United and Barcelona will be held in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. However this big event may have an effect on the Serie A schedule. UEFA rules state that the stadium must be in UEFA’s hands at least one week before the event. UEFA needs a week to prepare everything for the match and make sure nothing goes wrong with the facilities, the pitch, etc. The only problem is that three days before the final Lazio-Reggina is scheduled to be played at the Olimpico. Therefore, the match will not allowed to be played at the Olimpico. And in typical Italian fashion, the Lega Calcio waited until the very last minute to resolve the situation when in fact they had notice of this way in advance (the Stadio Olimpico was selected to host the final by UEFA in October of 2006).

Since this game takes place on the second to last round of the season, regulations are that all games must be played at the same time so that no other team has an unfair advantage. And since Reggina are in the relegation battle, they must play at the same time all other teams involved in the relegation fight (Torino, Bologna, and Lecce) do. Early reports said the Lega was considering postponing the entire Serie A round that day, but that has since been denied because there simply wouldn’t be enough time to finish the season before the Confederations Cup. So that leaves two solutions: move all games involving relegation zone teams to Wednesday, May 20th, or play on the 24th at a neutral venue (Perugia, Terni, or Florence). A decision will be made by the Lega Calcio on May 14th. Most probably they will play at a neutral venue, because the first solution means other teams have to all agree to play that Wednesday and most probably that will not happen.

Category: Bologna, Lazio, Rumors & News, Serie A

Tags: Bologna, Calcio, football, Futbol, Italy, Lazio, Lecce, Reggina, Rumors & News, Serie A, Soccer, Stadio Olimpico, Torino

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Comments  

• Musab |  May 7th, 2009 at 9:51 am

  
  
  

  Hey why not bring it over to the USA? Neutral, plenty of willing fans, and the money factor!

  Posted from United States

  

• alessio |  May 7th, 2009 at 9:59 am

  
  
  

  Only pointless friendlies go overseas.

  Like the Supercoppa.

  Posted from Spain

  

• Steven |  May 7th, 2009 at 10:47 am

  
  
  

  Musab way of thinking is exactly what’s wrong with football these days. And football fans. It’s all money, nobody cares about tradition anymore.

  Posted from United States

  

• Giuseppe |  May 7th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

  
  
  

  just give Lazio a loss

  Posted from United States

  

• Angharad |  May 7th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

  
  
  

  I don’t see how they can move only those matches which involve regulation battles and claim “fairness” without moving the other matches as well. If Fiorentina and Genoa are still fighting for fourth place, as we likely will be, then moving Genoa’s match with Torino without moving our match with Sampdoria would still create the disparity that playing the last two rounds at the same time was designed to avoid.

  Of course, I realize I am asking the FIGC to employ both logic and an actual conception of fairness, and therefore am completely wasting my time.

  Musab, you were kidding, right?

  Posted from United States

  

• Wayne |  May 7th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

  
  
  

  Bad preparation from UEFA?!?! I’m gobsmacked…

  Posted from United States

  

• alessio |  May 7th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

  
  
  

  Not really bad planning from Uefa as much as from the FIGC…

  They are only going to stagger the last round if nothing is at stake, ie- last year, Sampdoria & Juventus.

  Posted from Spain

  

• temo |  May 8th, 2009 at 1:51 am

  
  
  

  who cares about Lazio vs. Reggina, the Champion League Final is more important and it will be between Europe’s two giant clubs and the most adorable ones at the moment.

  Posted from United States

  

• LorenzoRosanero |  May 8th, 2009 at 5:39 am

  
  
  

  Oh, we all know that the FIGC and Italian politics in general are famous for their ruthless efficiency!

  Wait a sec…

  Posted from United States

  

• roberto |  May 10th, 2009 at 9:58 am

  
  
  

  Eh Frank, I’ve got an idea for the suggestion box over here on this blog. Put up another post for the goals of the week after this weekend. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen so many beaut’s around the league.

  Posted from United States

  

• Francesco |  May 11th, 2009 at 6:58 am

  
  
  

  roberto it’s funny I was thinking the exact same thing. There are definitely more then the usual 4 goals worth mentioning!

  Posted from United States

  

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