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Season 2003-2004 was horrible for many clubs, individuals, teams and selections. One hardly needs delving very deeply to recall the
diabolical moments which hit, amongst others Maradona, AC Napoli, Real Madrid, Italy, England and a number of national team managers just to mention a few of the many protagonists. The actual difficulty is formulating an appropriate list according to the severity of the setbacks. Maradona's fight for life cannot be matched with Sven Goran Eriksson's problems with the FA and his partner Nancy dell'Olio!
Napoli's bankruptcy and Real Madrid's failure to win an honour are two different stories, while the exceedingly serious trouble facing the FIGC may bring about another long, hot summer for the Italians!
Saddening or spicey episodes by all means but still greatly interesting.
Fourteen years after winning the Serie A championship AC Napoli may find themselves in Serie C, whereas their idol, Maradona, who had led them to unprecedented honours, continues to struggle for survival. The late eighties were brilliant for the city of Toto; however today even the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi a Livorno fan thought it fit to implore the mayor Rosa Russo Jervolino to seek a solution to the present crisis, in a heartfelt appeal to save the club. To have an idea of the desperate current situation one has only to have a meal at the elegant restaurant ‘La Sacrestia,’ for years the eating place of footballers of Napoli Calcio. It is so sad to learn that after they finish dinner, they ask to be allowed to pay at the end of the month, and then the month after, because the club has not paid their wages for months.
Of all the 42 serie A and B clubs, only Napoli failed to apply to take part in next season’s programme because the club could not raise EUR10million! Unbelievable! There could be other financial complications and debts. The fans may have a definite reply on Napoli's future on Tuesday. Maybe San Gennaro will hear their prayers.
As Luciano Gaucci states that he can buy the club, their idol is still hospitalised and seriously ill after that April shock. He was hardly in a position to celebrate the news that a gorgeous Cuban model, Adonay Fruto who celebrated her twentieth birthday last May, is five months pregnant by Maradona attracted several unkind comments by those who seem to enjoy a cheap thrill when they read about celebrities’ antics in the scandalous press but it caused havoc in the Maradona household. The Argentinian was not fit to confirm or deny what the Cuban bombshell divulged to the press as she was entering a popular disco club ‘Macomba’ which was the couple’s favourite spot. She claims to be Maradona's official girl friend and is confident that when he gets better Maradona will return to her. Adonay lives with her mother Marlen Canovas at La Predera, very near to the luxurious place that Maradona owns.
Maradona has been living in Cuba since 2000 in order to treat his cocaine addiction, and had many girls by his side, even before he had made it known that he had divorced his wife Claudia. In fact Adonay admitted that she saw Maradona regularly and that she also visited the clinic for many months, before he had to leave for Buenos Aires last March.
He had returned to Argentina to sort a few problems and eventually accused his great friend and personal manager of twenty years, Guilliermo Coppola of mishandling his funds. A couple of million dollars had gone missing! ‘Some of my daughter’s money has gone’ he said before he sacked Coppola.
Poisened tongues
Maradona blew his top and wanted to know what had actually happened to his funds. Within weeks he collapsed.
The money problem could have been a valid reason for his being rushed to intensive care, but wicked tongues could not help referring to the much overweight former football wizard’s past time in Havana as the reason for his serious ailment! Those remarks though hardly surprising in this day and age were in bad taste. It is no wonder that Maradona’s daughters Dalma and Giannina showed real anger. They did not comment on the fact that they may have a step brother in November. They simply called for more respect!
More refreshing was the news from FIFA Headquarters to offer concrete help in either of two famous Swiss clinics, one in Lugano and the other in Clarense, at the international body’s total expense. Unfortunately, Maradona’s ex-wife Claudia Villafane and his parents Dona Tota and Don Diego, declined the offer.
Admittedly Maradona has had heart problems before. He was diagnosed with a heart condition while in Punta del Este, a seaside resort in Uruguay in January 2000. That severe heart crisis due to a cocaine overdose forced him to begin recovery treatment in Cuba. He was reportedly a lot better and even played golf regularly. After the serious attack, he spent twelve days in an intensive unit, in critical condition The world media remarked how he had escaped death but became ‘mental.’ He was later put in a straitjacket, while being treated in a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Close family friends say that he has lost twenty kilos and is recovering slowly at ‘Del Parque’ clinic. Like the Maradona clan, his son, Diego Jnr and his Italian mother Cristina Sinagra did not comment on the illness or the expected addition.
Diego Jnr who is registered with AC Napoli is keen to continue with his search for fortune in Dunfermline, though mention was also made of Blackburn and Benfica. Cristina Sinagra who fought many a court battle to prove that Maradona was actually her son's father, seems determined to get him out of Naples!
Mentioning Naples and the Maradona connexion, brings memories of England’s manager Sven Goran Eriksson and his association with Lazio because apparently that’s where his love affair with Nancy dell’Olio started. It seems that this love story ended in midweek in the £2.5m house they share near Regent's Park, because the forty-five year old lawyer from Puglia was furious to read that her lover for five years has cheated on her with Faria Alam, 38.The very attractive lady who is a PA with the Football Association, denied the affair. Certain women seem to have a weakness for public figures, but they do not always succeed in
holding on to their conquests and on many occasions they actually get hurt. Nancy could be one of them.
The girl who admits that she takes two hours to get ready for a night out and who looks good in sky-high stilettos possibly blew it during a television interview.
It is known that Sven, who never discusses his private life, was not too pleased with her revelations during Jonathan Ross' show on BBC a fortnight ago when she declared that her get-fit tips were “making love and being in love.” She added that she dresses for Sven “or she doesn’t dress at all.” Then they went on separate holidays. She went shopping in Rome and also visited her parents in Bari, while Sven went to his native Sweden. Pals said that Sven wanted to ditch Nancy. Perhaps he needed a break as he has had a rough time since England’s early elimination from Euro 2004.
Disastrous for Real Madrid
The football world, which is replete with hundreds if not thousands of celebrities, offers great curiosity for gossip seekers. On and off the field problems are duly brought to light and not without reason. Take Real Madrid’s case as an example.
With a list of brilliant world-class aces, Real Madrid did not win anything during season 2003-2004. They may be satisfied with their sales earnings, though. At 138million euros it is greater than the total of the previous four years and goes a long way to lessen the reported debts of EUR 250million. Re-elected Chairman, Fiorentino Perez stated that the 'global rise of the Real Madrid brand has no comparison. It will help to launch a multimillion spending spree. The man who signed a big star every season, may be referring to the efforts to add Patrick Viera of France and Arsenal fame, presumably for EUR 45million. He must do everything to get his famous club win honours again. Perez is convinced that “it is best to invest in best players.” Financial figures prove Perez’s theory as far as income from the RM brand is concerned, but the club’s main target is that of success and to please the fans from far and wide and those who continually put their money in the club’s coffers. Real Madrid include several £100,000-a-week wizards in the side, but the team only finished fourth in the Spanish Liga and were eliminated in the Champions League quarter final by Monaco last season. That was a diabolical season.
Perez aims at being able to register great financial returns from the
RM brand, but equally expects a few silverware additions to the famous showcases.
While Real Madrid's problems could be solved during the forthcoming season, the FIGC may have difficulties in starting the new season as per schedule.
Scandals Galore
The FIGC President Franco Carraro must have been delighted to be returned to the UEFA Executive. That election result was probably the only satisfaction for the Italian football head especially when one considers the poor performances in the Champions League and Italy’s early elimination from EURO 2004. However, the saddest story is that of yet another betting scandal which this time involves 15 clubs, 17 players, a number of administrators and 2 Serie A referees. All have been questioned in connexion with their shady dealings of 17 matches eight of which are from the highest division. The two referees Marco Gabriele and Luca Palanca are suspended. Perhaps it is worth mentioning that last season Marco Gabriele controlled 30 matches and earned circa £m50,000. Luca Palanca was in charge of 40 matches and earned £m59,000. These figures include expenses for meetings and travelling. Refereeing is not their only job. Like the others they have a lot to answer for.
Discussing this particular topic with my close colleague provided a few laughs. Babs cannot help referring to ‘the beautiful game’ but keeps repeating that one cannot ignore the human element that dominates it. “Football is played and run by people and people tend to make silly and serious mistakes, sometimes by sheer misfortune, at other times through negligence and malice. It is a way of life for millions of followers who will never justify blunders and scandals. Sadly it is always the shady stories that make headlines, but not without reason.”
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