March 2 – The crisis at cash-strapped Parma has intensified after the Serie A club had a second match called off at the weekend, this time after the players threatened to go on strike over unpaid wages.
The players have not been paid all season with the club, bottom of the league, amassing debts of 197.4m euros.
A week ago the home game against Udinese postponed because officials could not afford to pay for stewards. On Sunday, transport to Genoa was promised – Parma signed a €20,000 one-match deal with a sponsor to cover costs – but the players refused to play
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) warned against future postponements. “Considering the morale of the players, I have agreed to postpone the game, but I can’t do it every Sunday,” said FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio. “This will be the last time.”
Club captain Alessandro Lucarelli had warned the players would boycott the game if it was not postponed.
Parma finished sixth in Serie A last season, under the guidance of former Italy midfielder Roberto Donadoni, to secure European qualification for the first time since 2007. But they were prevented from competing in the Europa League for not meeting UEFA’s club licensing criteria because of unpaid bills.
Ownership of the club has twice changed hands in as many months but the club are still unable to provide basic services and are on the brink of financial collapse. A bankruptcy hearing has been set for March 19 and other Serie A clubs are apparently debating whether to step in and help Parma finish the season.
So bad is the crisis at a club that won three European trophies in the 1990s – two UEFA Cups and one Cup Winner’s Cup – and was Serie A runner-up in 1997 that even benches from inside Parma’s changing room at the Tardini Stadium have been put up for auction at a price of €2,000.
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