Sport in Italy

Football: Abbiati signs one-year extension at Milan

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:00:54 +0000

Agence France-Presse

AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati has signed a one-year extension to his contract, which will now end in June 2014, the club said Monday.

Abbiati's deal with the Rossoneri was due to expire at the end of this month.

The news comes a day after Milan secured third place in Serie A thanks to a 2-1 win away to Siena.

The seven-time European champions, who last won the league in 2011, will qualify for the Champions League if they successfully negotiate a preliminary round.

jd/bc

Football: Roma hit with fan ban over racist abuse

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:15:18 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Roma will play their next league game without fans in the Olympic Stadium's 'Curva Sud' for their role in targeting AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli with racist abuse last week, officials said Monday.

Balotelli was among several Milan players subjected to the abuse when the sides played out a scoreless Serie A draw at the San Siro.

The game was marked by the referee halting the match for 90 seconds to make an appeal to Roma's fans.

In a statement issued Monday the FIGC said: "The Giallorossi (Roma) will play one game with the Curva Sud (South Stand) empty of fans."

Football: Napoli in London to meet Benitez

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:16:04 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis was in London Monday to meet Rafael Benitez in a bid to lure Chelsea's interim manager to the Serie A club, according to reports in Italy.

Napoli's runner-up place to Juventus was confirmed when the season ended on Sunday, meaning the Neapolitans have qualified for next season's Champions League.

Napoli's need to find a new coach is pressing as Walter Mazzarri confirmed on Sunday his departure from the club.

Football: Late Mexes winner saves Milan's Champs League bid

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:00:57 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Frenchman Phillipe Mexes scored a late winner for AC Milan in a 2-1 comeback victory at Siena on Sunday which saved the Serie A giants' chances of appearing in next season's Champions League.

Milan were facing a fourth-place finish after falling behind to a 25th minute goal from Claudio Terzi.

However, after spurning several chances throughout the match in which both sides finished with 10 men, the seven-time European champions were given a lifeline when Mario Balotelli levelled from the spot in the 84th minute after being fouled in the box.

Football: Minnows Sassuolo make Serie A history

Agence France-Presse — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:15:28 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Nine-man Sassuolo wrote a page in Italian football history Saturday by winning Serie B and gaining promotion to Italy's Serie A for the first time.

An injury time goal from playmaker Simone Missiroli in an ill-tempered 1-0 win over Livorno was enough to secure promotion to Italy's top flight and games against giants like Juventus, AC Milan and Inter.

With approximately 41,000 inhabitants, Sassuolo, based near Ferrari's headquarters of Maranello, will also become the smallest town to have a club in Serie A and will be joined by Hellas Verona after they finished second.

Football: Milan, Fiorentina in final European push

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:46:12 +0000

Agence France-Presse

AC Milan and Fiorentina's duel for Serie A's final Champions League place, and a Udinese-Lazio battle for Europa League qualification will bring the curtain down on the Italian season this weekend.

With Juventus having wrapped up their 29th league title two weeks ago, and Napoli securing the second automatic qualifying place for the Champions League, the focus falls firmly on qualifying for Europe.

Milan, crowned European champions seven times, currently sit in third place -- nine points behind runners-up Napoli -- with a two-point lead over Fiorentina.

Football: Vieira handed coaching role at City

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:00:04 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira was appointed as the coach of Manchester City's emerging young stars on Thursday.

Vieira had been working as City's football development executive since retiring as a player with the Manchester outfit two years ago and is now in charge of their 'elite development squad'.

The 36-year-old's move onto the City coaching staff, which will see him deal with what is effectively the reserve team, follows the sacking of manager Roberto Mancini and a number of his backroom team earlier this week.

Football: Inter's Cassano breaks hand

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:46:04 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Inter Milan's injury crisis deepened on Thursday as Italy forward Antonio Cassano broke his hand falling awkwardly in training, the club said.

Cassano had only just come back from another injury that kept him out of action for a month and a half.

The Nerazzurri have had to contend without a host of star names this season with Cassano's fellow forwards Diego Milito and Rodrigo Palacio also spending time on the treatment table.

eba/bc/lp

Football: Rossi extends stay with Sampdoria

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:46:14 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Delio Rossi on Wednesday extended his contract as coach of Sampdoria, tying him to the Serie A club until 2015.

Rossi, who took over from Ciro Ferrara just before Christmas, has steered the 'Blucerchiati' to safety in a difficult first season back in the top flight and penned his new deal live on Samp's television channel.

"We will have to put up with each other for another two years," club president Edoardo Garrone joked on SampTV.

Football: Kidd shocked at Mancini sacking

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:15:23 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Caretaker Manchester City manager Brian Kidd says Roberto Mancini's sacking has rocked the club.

City overcame their FA Cup final defeat to Wigan Athletic by beating relegated Reading 2-0 at Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night to guarantee they finished second in the Premier League.

Goals from Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko were enough for the hosts, who began life without Mancini with a win.

But Kidd, City's assistant manager, said the Italian's departure had been tough to take.

Football: Italy to push UEFA for tough racism curbs

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:30:52 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete will ask UEFA chief Michel Platini to introduce tough new legislation in a bid to drive racism from the sport following the latest incident to tarnish the game in Italy.

The move follows a match between AC Milan and Roma on Sunday at which Milan players Mario Balotelli and Kevin Prince Boateng were racially abused by a section of the visiting Roma fans.

Football: Italy to push UEFA for tough racism curbs

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:04:03 +0000

Agence France-Presse

The move follows a match between AC Milan and Roma on Sunday at which Milan players Mario Balotelli and Kevin Prince Boateng were racially abused by a section of the visiting Roma fans.

Football: City sack manager Mancini

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:32:54 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Roberto Mancini was sacked as manager of Manchester City on Monday almost a year after leading the club to the English Premier League title, officials announced.

City's shock FA Cup Final defeat by Wigan at Wembley on Saturday strengthened rumours Mancini was about to be sacked and the club's Abu Dhabi-based owners confirmed Monday the end of the Italian manager's three-and-a-half years at Eastlands.

jdg/nr

Football: City sack manager Mancini

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:32:36 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Roberto Mancini was sacked as manager of Manchester City on Monday almost a year after leading the club to the English Premier League title, officials announced.

Football: Milan close in on Champs League with Pescara rout

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:06:44 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A Mario Balotelli brace and one apiece from Sulley Muntari and Mathieu Flamini put AC Milan within sight of Champions League football next season thanks to a 4-0 rout of already-relegated Pescara on Wednesday.

Milan started the match knowing that three points would reinforce their grip on third place, which offers a qualifying round place in Europe's premier club competition.