Italian football. Absolute bloody disaster area

- A corruption scandal which destroyed public support, punished the biggest club in Italy - but which the then chief prosecutor has since admitted should actually have punished the club which directly benefited, Inter.

- Several subsequent matchfixing scandals (unlike Calciopoli/Farsopoli, which was never about actual matchfixing, contrary to what the international media reported)

- Two of the three biggest clubs a complete shambles. The other one winning a procession every year

- Tribalism beyond belief, ultras who appear untouchable by the authorities and who hold their clubs to ransom, violence, racism: including even from the federation's President and the former Milan and Italy manager

- No money, ever declining standards. Just one club - Inter 2010 - has reached the CL semi-finals since 2007. No clubs at all have reached the UEFA Cup/Europa League Final since 1999.

It used to be the benchmark, the absolute business. The best, highest quality, most competitive league football has ever known between the mid-80s and mid-90s; James Richardson slurping gelati and gazing coyly at passing beauties; Peter Brackley welcoming us all to the San Siro and exhorting "oh, FABOOLUS GOAL!" Now? It's a bloody joke. :(

Posted By: thebigfeller, Feb 20, 19:00:32