Roma have announced an appeal to be awarded the Cagliari” data-scaytid=”1″>Cagliari win after Massimo Cellino invited fans to attend a closed doors game. “It’s his fault.”
Roma have announced an appeal to be awarded the Cagliari win after Massimo Cellino invited fans to attend a closed doors game. “It’s his fault.”
The Is Arenas failed security checks and was ordered to play behind closed doors, but Cagliari President Cellino publicly urged season ticket holders to come to the stadium anyway.
This prompted fears over public safety, so a meeting with police deep into the night saw the local authorities call off the game. Now it might not be rescheduled, as Roma are appealing to be awarded the 3-0 victory.
“We are astounded by the situation and lodging an appeal is not a choice, but rather our duty,” explained Giallorossi director general Franco Baldini.
“We are the damaged party in this affair. We had organised everything for this match, including flights and hotels.
“Cellino’s statement provoked inevitable consequences and the Prefecture told me the news overnight.
“This match did not go ahead because of Cellino’s behaviour, so the responsibility is clear. A 3-0 defeat for Cagliari is the direct consequence of that.
“You cannot just adopt the rules when they suit you. It was embarrassing for us to explain what had happened to the squad, especially our young foreign players… They’d never heard anything like it.
“Roma do not just need to look after their own interests and those of their fans, but also protect the sacrosanct right to respect rules in competitions. They cannot be bent to suit subjective needs.”