Cagliari president slams Juventus over 'embarassing' fixture rearrangement

Dec 21, 2012 12:20:00 AM

The Rossoblu supremo was left furious with the Old Lady's part in ensuring Friday's league meeting between the two clubs is to be played in Parma and not Sardinia

Cagliari president Massimo Cellino has branded Lega Calcio's decision to move the venue of the Serie A fixture between his side and Juventus to the home of Parma - the Tardini - as an "embarrassment".

The match was due to be played at the Is Arenas, but the stadium failed security checks, meaning the mayor of the Sardinian capital and league's governing body were forced to intervene and rearrange the fixture so it could be played in the Emilia-Romagna region.

"I feel a deep sense of shame and embarrassment, having done everything possible to give this stadium to the team and to Sardinia," the Rossoblu president told Sky Sport Italia.

"The local council authorised the game to go ahead, so if Juventus had agreed then we would have played in Cagliari.

"It is their right and they showed they are happier to play in Parma. We had to organise everything for this match in the space of 24 hours.

"We hope that justice exists in football. We thought it was a privilege not to be involved, with players or coaches, in any scandals and having balanced books despite no stars on our shirts.

"We are proud of our club. The Sardinians evidently have a defect, which is to respect the laws and not just do anything we want."

Meanwhile, Rossoblu coach Ivo Pulga lamented the fact that the club's fans would not be entreated to such a high-profile match and outlined his belief that only by attacking Juventus will his team stand a chance.

"It's a shame for the fans who had the chance to see a great game taken from them. Their support would’ve been an extra boost for the team, but for us it’s like another away game," he told Tuttosport.

“We can only get the better of Juventus by attacking them, without sitting back or being inert as they play around us. If you stay in your own half, there’s a really big chance of conceding a goal."

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'
Mario Gotze's injury means the playmaker has now played his final game for Borussia Dortmund. In an open letter, a fan tells of his emotion at his controversial switch to Bayern
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants Isco at Chelsea
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements
Soulless EPL must face up to grim reality
After a season marred by controversy and a failure of its top teams to put up a credible Champions League challenge, the world's supposed best league is falling behind