Shrinking Viola

New Fiorentina prepares to start again in Serie C

Ex-Fiorentina star Rui Costa says the club is part of Italy's soccer heritage. Grazia Neri/Allsport

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) -- Under a new, and much longer name -- Fiorentina 1926 Florentia -- the Florentine club prepared for enrollment in Italy's Serie C league after the disgraced soccer powerhouse was excluded from the next Serie B campaign because of its financial woes.

The new label, and availability of fresh money for the payment of Federation dues, were announced Friday by city sports commissioner Eugenio Giani as Florentine fans and former Fiorentina stars vowed for a quick return of the team to the elite division of Italian soccer.

"Fiorentina still is in my heart... A solution must be found immediately because Florentine fans do not deserve this," said international star Roberto Baggio, the forward whose transfer from Fiorentina to Juventus in 1990 touched off a revolt by fans.

Portuguese midfielder Manuel Rui Costa, who moved from Fiorentina to AC Milan last year, said the Florentine team "is part of the soccer heritage of this country and must be salvaged."

Soccer authorities, which decided the exclusion of Fiorentina after club owner Vittorio Cecchi Gori failed to meet a deadline for paying about 22 million euros (US$22 million) and avoid possible bankruptcy, did not immediately decide if the refounded Florentine team will restart from C-1 (third division) or C-2 (fourth division).

Florence Mayor Leonardo Dominici said it was up "to those who love soccer and Florence" to make available funds to sign new players and start in the next season.

According to published reports movie director Franco Zeffirelli and Florentine financier Piero Barucci may become part of the new Fiorentina board.

Fiorentina, founded in 1926 and a two-title Italian league champion, was a Champions league participant just two years ago.

It will need at least three years and a streak of promotions to rejoin the Serie A.

Contra ready to make up with Davids

MILAN, Italy (AP) -- While AC Milan was preparing to fine him, Romanian defender Cosmin Contra said Friday he was ready to shake hands with Dutch International Edgar Davids and forget their bitter fight during a less-than-friendly soccer match which touched off bitter criticism on the two players.

"Never again I will do it .... I am ready to meet Davids and shake hands with him," Contra made public through the official Web site of the Milan club.

Contra and Davids, who plays with Turin club Juventus, traded kicks and punches during the AC Milan-Juventus pre-season TIM Cup. They kept on fighting in the dressing rooms, after both were ejected by the referee after four minutes of play.

Italy's largest sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, which had urged a harsh punishment of the two players for their public misbehavior, wrote Friday that Juventus may transfer Davids as a result of the latest deeds of the temperamental Dutch midfielder.

AS Roma is known to be seeking Davids for the next season.

Rivaldo boosts Milan ticket sales

MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Sales of AC Milan season tickets have been brisk since the club signed Brazilian standout Rivaldo for the next Serie A campaign.

The club official Web site reported that the number of season tickets hit 40,000 this week, with average daily sailes tripling since Rivaldo's transfer was announced last Saturday.

The Brazilian star, who helped his national team to clinch a fifth World Cup title this summer, is expected to arrive in Milan next week.

 

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