Just in Case We Needed Further Proof that Football is an Industry

By: Martha | February 5th, 2007

Football League President Antonio Matarrese, railed in the press yesterday against the further suspension of calcio, saying “Football must never shut down.” He’s not worried about the culture, however, or the absence of entertainment on Sundays. No — it’s money that has him up at arms: “This is one of the most important businesses in Italy and it has to continue to work.” Ultimately, even fatalities, however tragic, should not bring play to a stop, because “Deaths in the soccer system unfortunately are part of this enormous [hooligan] movement that the police have not been yet able to control.” Yeah, you read that right — deaths surrounding football are inevitable. Jesus.

In a way, there’s something darkly reassuring about his mindset. Obviously, it’s horrifying that someone in a position of authority is so callous about what happened last weekend, and so totally disinterested in fixing the myriad problems that lead to Filippo Raciti’s death. On the other hand, however, it’s something of a relief that someone is finally being honest about the financial repercussions of all this. I said before in the comments that postponing the rest of the season was a virtual impossibility, entirely for financial reasons, and it’s almost … nice to see Matarrese make so horribly clear what the real priories are. We all know that money is the engine behind the game, but hearing someone admit it feels like a demented step in the right direction.

Some Related Serie A Posts:

Category: Rumors & News, Serie A

« At a Crossroads | Home | Meet the New Guidelines, Same as the Old Guidelines »

Marco

They do have screening measures - whether they enforce them is the issue. It's Italy afterall. They just let the Ultra members go through without checking them. In Australia they won't even let us take an unsealed water bottle into the ground. It's a whole cultural change that is needed.
Muddia Beduddia

I am curious as to why owners/clubs act like it is so difficult to police spectators entering. I mean, post-9/11, everyone gets screened entering any event here. The most they ever seem to confiscate is a flask here and there, but it clearly isn't too difficult or too burdensome for the spectator. Couple that with the fact that nobody seems to be going to these matches anyway and it should be a slam dunk for security. I mean, how hard is it to check a few thousand folks upon arriving for a match? They do it at college football stadiums with over 100K people attending here.
Marcello

Lets just get calcio back on the road people!
Sam

Goddamnit, this is depressing. "Death is a part of the game" or some bullshit? Is it just me or is pro football becoming an apathetic corporate venture? Oh, right, it's been for a few decades.
Mele

While yes, the monetary reprocussions of postponing or stopping football for any period of time would be absolutely catastrophic, it's horrible that someone could be so cold hearted about something like this. Hopefully this time around, something will be done and ENFORCED.
Checking patrons is a fantastic idea, if only they enforced it, maybe these things wouldn't happen. If there was adequate crowd control at games that are known to have trouble, such as derbies, these things also may not happen.

I pray to God that this will stop.
-Michele Mele.