Gaucci launches new legal battle
Saturday 26 June, 2004
One year after a summer-long war in the Italian appeal courts saw Serie B expanded to 24 teams, Perugia chief Luciano Gaucci has launched a new crusade.
“We will appeal to the Olympic Committee council to get Perugia reinstated into the top flight,” announced the volcanic President. “Some clubs did not have the correct financial status to register for this Championship.”
There was controversy last summer when Roma and several other sides were allowed to enter the Serie A campaign despite providing false paperwork to prove their financial status. A police investigation found that the clubs were the victims of fraud rather than the perpetrators, so their guarantees were accepted despite being handed in late.
“I am certain that our appeal will be accepted and our rights acknowledged,” continued Gaucci, “but in case that doesn’t happen I am ready to go to the bitter end, including into the civil courts.”
This is a terrifying prospect for anyone who followed last year’s chaotic legal battle between Catania – also owned by Gaucci – and the Federation.
Due to a rule that was open to interpretation, Catania claimed they drew a game with a side that fielded a player who had not sat out a one-match ban. This dragged on for several months until the FIGC eventually caved in and expanded Serie B to 24 teams in order to include the Sicilians.
“Perugia deserve Serie A,” insists Gaucci, “because we always did everything by the book, while other clubs did not and that is why I am prepared to lead this battle. I consider this to be a tougher challenge than the one I won with Catania last year, but I won’t give in and am ready to use any means necessary.”
Perugia were relegated into Serie B after losing the play-off with Fiorentina 2-1 on aggregate.
“I confirm my intention of selling off the entire squad as punishment. It is also certain that the Coach will be Serse Cosmi, as he has another year left on his contract and his future is not remotely in doubt.”
Only this week Gaucci’s son Alessandro, who is also a director at Perugia, claimed that Cosmi was free to leave the Stadio Curi if he was offered a better job.
Saturday 26 June, 2004
One year after a summer-long war in the Italian appeal courts saw Serie B expanded to 24 teams, Perugia chief Luciano Gaucci has launched a new crusade.
“We will appeal to the Olympic Committee council to get Perugia reinstated into the top flight,” announced the volcanic President. “Some clubs did not have the correct financial status to register for this Championship.”
There was controversy last summer when Roma and several other sides were allowed to enter the Serie A campaign despite providing false paperwork to prove their financial status. A police investigation found that the clubs were the victims of fraud rather than the perpetrators, so their guarantees were accepted despite being handed in late.
“I am certain that our appeal will be accepted and our rights acknowledged,” continued Gaucci, “but in case that doesn’t happen I am ready to go to the bitter end, including into the civil courts.”
This is a terrifying prospect for anyone who followed last year’s chaotic legal battle between Catania – also owned by Gaucci – and the Federation.
Due to a rule that was open to interpretation, Catania claimed they drew a game with a side that fielded a player who had not sat out a one-match ban. This dragged on for several months until the FIGC eventually caved in and expanded Serie B to 24 teams in order to include the Sicilians.
“Perugia deserve Serie A,” insists Gaucci, “because we always did everything by the book, while other clubs did not and that is why I am prepared to lead this battle. I consider this to be a tougher challenge than the one I won with Catania last year, but I won’t give in and am ready to use any means necessary.”
Perugia were relegated into Serie B after losing the play-off with Fiorentina 2-1 on aggregate.
“I confirm my intention of selling off the entire squad as punishment. It is also certain that the Coach will be Serse Cosmi, as he has another year left on his contract and his future is not remotely in doubt.”
Only this week Gaucci’s son Alessandro, who is also a director at Perugia, claimed that Cosmi was free to leave the Stadio Curi if he was offered a better job.
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