FIRST BIG CLUB DIES

Last updated : 02 August 2002 By editor

Footballs cash problem took its first high profile victim this week, AC Fiorentina will no longer be able to take part in Italian football. The Florence club allegedly had around £15,000,000 debts and was unable to pay it off before the deadline set last week. This now means the Florence based team will not be able to take its place in this years Serie B (Fiorentina were relegated last season as financial turmoil off the pitch hit the team's performances).

Italian Federation president Franco Carraro said at the end of the Federal meeting, "Today is a really bad day, because of the fact that a club with a big tradition such as Fiorentina will not have the possibility to subscribe to the league, is a defeat for all of us. I'm close to the supporters and players. I have the job of evaluating and presenting every possibility to help the new Fiorentina start this year in professional soccer".

It is believed a new Fiorentina will start this season in either Serie C1 or C2. The fact that Fiorentina was playing Champions League football only three seasons ago will be a staunch warning to Chairmen throughout Europe to not let the same thing happen to them.

Meanwhile in Britain Bradford City have escaped a similar problem. Bradford City can continue as a professional football club after creditors voted to accept a Creditors' Voluntary Agreement (CVA) at a meeting yesterday.