Damiano Tommasi, President of the Italian footballer’s union the AIC, calls the situation at Parma ‘very worrying’ and it's 'difficult' to see debts being settled.
The Ducali have been taken over by a new group of investors who have promised to pay the club’s debts, which could top €90m, by Monday at the latest.
Damiano Tommasi, President of the Italian footballer’s union the AIC, calls the situation at Parma ‘very worrying’ and it's 'difficult' to see debts being settled.
The Ducali have been taken over by a new group of investors who have promised to pay the club’s debts, which could top €90m, by Monday at the latest.
Should that not go through, the club would be placed into administration as they would miss a deadline to pay players and staff.
“We expected a little more [from the new owners],” Tommasi admitted in an interview with Tuttomercatoweb.
“We haven’t been told anything except that they’re going to fix things. I hope they do so.
“We need to protect the professionalism of the players and the correctness of the League. Let’s see what will happen on Monday.
“I don’t have my finger on the pulse of this situation, from what we can see the problem is more serious than it appears.
“The debt is at a certain level, and it’s difficult to think that it can be settled. Those who are seeking to settle it are right to offer assurances to those who seek them, but the debt is substantial and very worrying.
“Administration? A formal notice would have to be given to pay the salaries which have not been paid to date.
“I hope it’s a point we don’t reach, I hope we can reach a solution so we don’t see a repeat of what happened in similar situations. Serie A can’t afford it.”
Tommasi also backed calls for a ‘fit and proper person test’, similar to the one used in Britain which saw Massimo Cellino barred from the Presidency of Leeds United.
“I’m just saying, a few months ago the Federation [FIGC] modified and relaxed the restrictions on the good standing of directors.
“That’s the opposite of what we need, and I hope those choices will be reversed with resolutions.
“In a system like ours, it’s wrong that football can be ruined by a few people, there should be guarantees and safeguards.”