The Italian job
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on the verge of clinching his 7th straight league title. The figure might have been 9 had the Calciopoli scandal not stripped Juventus of their titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not a work of fiction. This is not a writer getting his facts all wrong. This is the Italian Serie A’s biggest threat, back to rear its ugly head once again.
In the recently concluded Indian Premier League, 5 players were punished for conspiring to match fix.
These were the Salabh Srivastavs and the Mohnish Mishra of the world that very few people had heard of before the scandal.
These guys were desperate. Age was no longer on their side, their national team chances were as good as those given to people who win the lottery in the USA (which I’ve heard is as hard as being struck by lightning twice. Really Mr Stats Man? )
Coming back to the IPL stupidstars, in one swift decision of 0% brain and 100% baboonery, their careers got shut down faster than a Ferrari on Nos.
But then again, these guys were the nobodies of the cricketing world and a school of thought is out there saying who’s to blame them.
Fair enough. What does that make Stefano Mauri, Domenico Criscito and Antonio Conte then?
Criscito, Conte and Mauri are being accused of taking the footballing equivalent of a dowry. As a result, lightning indeed seems to have struck twice at the Italian Serie A.
Domenico Criscito was hauled up during the national team’s training camp for the upcoming Euro 2012.
And Stefano Mauri, once one of the hottest prospect in world football was the first name in the book.
The captain of Lazio, was the first to be arrested in a series of events that has tarnished the reputation of an already oft questioned league.
I don’t think banning a few players or club is the answer. These must be just a few people that have come into the limelight for their misdemeanour but the corruption must be far spread.
The entire league should get a European ban (so no CL or Europa League) for a season. And then they should get a TV ban for a year.
That will be more revolting for players trying to earn through fixing as it will make the clubs more vigilant because it will directly hamper their revenue streams in a big way.
All in all, it has come as not surprise that a country that repeatedly votes in Silvio Berlusconi as Prime Minister has a corrupt league.
Just like it was no surprise that Suresh Kalmadi ran a sports racket called the Commonwealth Games only to take all the common wealth for himself.
And us Indians didn’t act surprised. We just sort of threw him in jail and ensured he won’t get such a chance again. Time to do the same Italy.
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