Zeman: ‘Five substitutions unfair’

Zdenek Zeman theorises why Giorgio Chiellini said he ‘hates’ Inter, is against the use of five substitutions or the return of Serie A during a pandemic.

Today is former Roma, Lazio and Foggia coach Zeman’s 73rd birthday and he spoke to Rai Radio 1 show Un Giorno da Pecora.

“Football is a spectacle for people to watch, so there’s no point in it carrying on behind closed doors,” said Zeman.

Zdenek Zeman theorises why Giorgio Chiellini said he ‘hates’ Inter, is against the use of five substitutions or the return of Serie A during a pandemic.

Today is former Roma, Lazio and Foggia coach Zeman’s 73rd birthday and he spoke to Rai Radio 1 show Un Giorno da Pecora.

“Football is a spectacle for people to watch, so there’s no point in it carrying on behind closed doors,” said Zeman.

“I miss football, and I’ll watch the games if they do resume, but I honestly hope for them that they don’t. I realise football wants to resume because they need the money, but 30,000 deaths is a lot to deal with.”

FIFA have given the all-clear for there to be five substitutions rather than three for the rest of the season.

“That would make it an irregular campaign, because if you play 20 rounds with three substitutions allowed, you can’t just change the rules halfway through,” continued Zeman.

“A change would favour those clubs who have very large squads and are otherwise forced to send stars into the stands.”

Juventus captain Chiellini said this week with regards to his autobiography that he ‘hates’ Inter in a purely sporting sense.

“I think ‘hate’ is an ugly word to use when it comes to football,” noted Zeman. “Perhaps he just named Inter because he lost to them the most times.”