By Andrew Warshaw
September 25 – Roma have been awarded a 3-0 walkover win over Cagliari for the Serie A match postponed at the weekend due to safety issues.
The game was originally slated to be played behind closed doors but Cagliari chief Massimo Cellini defied the authorities by appealing to ticket-holders to disregard the ruling and turn up anyway in spite of the stadium having been ruled unsafe.
In awarding the match to Roma (pictured above), a judge described Cellini’s move as “disgraceful encouragement” and spoke of “provocations” by Cagliari in refusing to “rigorously comply with rulings from public authorities”.
Cagliari also incurred the wrath of the Italian league, which claimed the club’s actions were “a blatant violation” of its rules.
The Rossoblù, as Cagliari are known, could now face further sanctions as the matter has also been referred to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Roma director Franco Baldini called for his club to be awarded three points by default as a result of the postponement and as the bad blood between the clubs intensified, Baldini was in turn described as a “vulture” by Cagliari.
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