Calcio stops for Pope John Paul (1 Viewer)

Zlatan

Senior Member
Jun 9, 2003
23,049
#1
Calcio stops for Pope John Paul
Saturday 2 April, 2005
The CONI has announced that all Serie A and B games will be rescheduled as a sign of respect for Pope John Paul II.

There had already been rumours that the matches would be halted if His Holiness lost his fight for life over the weekend, but calls to stop now were growing with every hour.

It is believed that the Serie A encounters will be rescheduled for Wednesday April 20, moving the planned Coppa Italia ties forward by one week to accomodate them.

"In the light of the latest medical reports that make clear the imminent death of His Holiness and in respect for the sentiments expressed by the players, Coaches, directors and fans, we have invited the Federations of all Italian sports to immediately suspend all activity planned for this weekend," said CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) President Gianni Petrucci.
 

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gray

Senior Member
Moderator
Apr 22, 2003
30,260
#2
With no disrespect to the Pope, does this mean we'll have more time to prepare for the match against Liverpool? It could be a telling advantage, because Liverpool have a tough game against Bolton this weekend.

Though it looks like the Serie A matches will be rescheduled to the 20th... just in time for Miccoli to return :groan:
 

JCK

Biased
JCK
May 11, 2004
124,399
#3
++ [ originally posted by gray ] ++
With no disrespect to the Pope, does this mean we'll have more time to prepare for the match against Liverpool? It could be a telling advantage, because Liverpool have a tough game against Bolton this weekend.

Though it looks like the Serie A matches will be rescheduled to the 20th... just in time for Miccoli to return :groan:
But we night also have a complete squad with Trezeguet, Zalayeta and whoever is injured or suspended
 

Respaul

Senior Member
Jul 14, 2002
4,734
#5
For Juve... I think its bad... Yes our players will be rested but what with the international weekend ... We have had a long break between games... Which is not good...

Look at the xmas break... Teams often take a couple of games to get going again after that

Hopefully we will be ok... but it could be bad for us... especially in what is likely to be a very physical and high paced match
 

Vinman

2013 Prediction Cup Champ
Jul 16, 2002
11,481
#6
Hmmm... I'm not sure

but my first thought was that this could be a good thing.

I think a little extra rest may do our players some good, esp the one's that played internationals during the past week
 

Respaul

Senior Member
Jul 14, 2002
4,734
#8
Its not 'Back on the 20th'...

Serie A is expected to resume next week but this weeks matches will be played on the 20th
 

Erkka

Senior Member
Mar 31, 2004
3,863
#9
How hypocritical.

They didn't postpone the games after 9/11, they didn't postpone the games after the tsunami... But now they do reschedule the games because of this...

And yeah, probably this is bad for Juve.
 

gray

Senior Member
Moderator
Apr 22, 2003
30,260
#11
++ [ originally posted by Erkka ] ++
How hypocritical.

They didn't postpone the games after 9/11, they didn't postpone the games after the tsunami... But now they do reschedule the games because of this...
Ermmm why is it hypocritical? Italy is a Catholic country, and the head of the Catholic church is close to death. It's only natural that this is closer to the heart for Italians. That's not utterly heartless IMO.
 

gray

Senior Member
Moderator
Apr 22, 2003
30,260
#12
Most of those involved in Italian football have come out in favour of suspending all matches as a sign of respect for The Pope, but Juve have some reservations.

The decision to reschedule the Serie A and B games was in the air, although it was only taken early this afternoon by the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee).

“When faced with certain situations, football has to take a step back,” said Sampdoria Coach Walter Novellino. “Right now everyone should stop and pray for The Pope, a man who has given so much to the human race and passed on his message of peace.”

Cagliari captain Gianfranco Zola added, “We are all very upset and are waiting for news from the Vatican with our fingers crossed. It is right that sport should stop now because there are things far more important than football.”

Parma boss Pietro Carmignani was also in favour of a suspension as His Holiness continues his fight for life. “It is the correct decision, as the fact the doctors have given no hope of a recovery makes these hours even more painful for everyone.”

However, the timing of the decision has caused some controversy, especially for those teams who had already made the trip to today’s games – Juventus, Inter, Livorno and Brescia.

“The decision to suspend all sporting activity this weekend was a wise one, but it was so clear to everyone that it should’ve already been made yesterday,” noted Juve director general Luciano Moggi (pictured).


Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini had originally stated that the matches should go on. “I am satisfied that a decision has been made to end the uncertainty that has been hanging over everyone for the last 24 hours. A football match isn’t easy to organise, so a statement had to be made one way or the other.”
 

Erkka

Senior Member
Mar 31, 2004
3,863
#14
++ [ originally posted by gray ] ++

Ermmm why is it hypocritical? Italy is a Catholic country, and the head of the Catholic church is close to death. It's only natural that this is closer to the heart for Italians. That's not utterly heartless IMO.
:eek:


+ He's not even dead yet.
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
113,580
#17
Well the positive side of this is that Nedved will yet again have some more time to recover, however there goes the chance to get Nedved match fit for Tuesday. Trezeguet was also apparently on the sidelines, so we should have him back for the replay against Fiorentina later in April.

But then again we have not played in a couple weeks now, and hopefully we will not come out sluggish against Pool.
 

isha00

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2003
5,114
#18
++ [ originally posted by Erkka ] ++


:eek:


+ He's not even dead yet.
That is not the point. The decision was made to respect his suffering, his agony.
Italy is living this situation in a very profound way, the Pope is not regarded only as the successor of Saint Peter here, the bond people have with him is something more deeply than that. That's because of his attention to young people, the way he showed that ill people have still lots to give, his strenght in the last years. He brought something fresh, something new to the church. You have to see the decision under this light.

To make an example I can tell you about me. I'm catholic, but I don't go to church and I'm oftenly critic reagarding the church, but the Pope is for me something special anyway, he teaches people great things with his example (never to give up, for example), even to the non-catholic ones.
 

Stu

Senior Member
Jul 14, 2002
17,557
#19
Some are saying that this is beneficial to Juve because we'll have more time to prepare for Liverpool and what not but I tend to disagree. We haven't played a game in two weeks so there's no reason for the players to be tired and imo the Fiorentina match could have answered some telling questions ahead of our CL clash. We could have found out what sort of form Nedved is in which could be the determining factor in regards to which system we play against Liverpool. Pavel could have gotten some much needed minutes under his belt but that is now impossible. I just hope we aren't rusty against Pool on Tuesday.
 

Stu

Senior Member
Jul 14, 2002
17,557
#20
Btw guys, the week 30 fixtures are going to be played next weekend and not April 20th. Everything is being pushed back by a week.

Serie A calendar shuffles forward
Saturday 2 April, 2005

In a controversial move, the Lega Calcio has opted to shuffle all Serie A and B fixtures along by one week following today’s suspension.

This means that the top flight Week 30 fixtures originally set for this weekend will now be played on Saturday April 9 and Sunday April 10.

Week 31 encounters will now take place on Saturday April 16 and Sunday April 17, while there will be a midweek round on April 20. All games on that Wednesday round will have a 20.30 local time kick-off.

The Serie B fixture list will change along the same lines. All sporting events in Italy were suspended this weekend as a sign of respect for Pope John Paul II.

With this in mind, the Coppa Italia quarter-finals have also been moved to May 11-12 and May 18-19.

This is the new fixture list for Serie A:

Week 30

Saturday April 9

Bologna-Inter (18.00 local time, 17.00 in the UK)

Milan-Brescia (18.00)

Fiorentina-Juventus (20.30)

Sunday April 10 (15.00)

Atalanta-Chievo

Cagliari-Sampdoria

Lazio-Livorno

Lecce-Siena

Palermo-Messina

Reggina-Parma

Udinese-Roma

Week 31

Saturday April 16

Messina-Udinese (18.00)

Sampdoria-Palermo (20.30)

Roma-Reggina (20.30)

Sunday April 17 (15.00)

Bologna-Lazio

Brescia-Atalanta

Chievo-Parma

Inter-Cagliari

Juventus-Lecce

Livorno-Fiorentina

Siena-Milan

Week 32

Wednesday April 20 (all games at 20.30)

Cagliari-Lazio

Fiorentina-Messina

Juventus-Inter

Lecce-Bologna

Milan-Chievo

Palermo-Brescia

Parma-Sampdoria

Reggina-Atalanta

Roma-Siena

Udinese-Livorno
 

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