Bankruptcy-threatened Parma FC is
set to return to action this weekend as top-flight clubs vowed
to save Serie A's bottom club and a probe into possible
financial irregularities gathered pace.
The Lega Serie A association of top-flight clubs said
Friday it was willing to do what "it could" to save beleaguered
Parma.
Sixteen clubs voted in favour and one, Cesena, against,
while three including Napoli abstained.
Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) chief Carlo Tavecchio said
after the Lega Serie A meeting that he was going to meet Parma
Mayor Federico Pizzarotti and the players and would make
"reasonable proposals" to them.
Atalanta General Manager Pierpaolo Marino told reporters
after the Lega A meeting:
"It's all in Tavecchio's hands".
He said the Bergamo club "is ready to dipute the game at
Parma".
Italian tax police on Friday searched the offices of Parma
FC, the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) in Rome, and the Lega
Serie A in Milan ahead of a pre-bankruptcy hearing.
A labour consultancy office in Parma was also searched.
Reams of documents were seized in the raids, police said,
without saying what they were about.
Earlier a Parma ground safety agency said Sunday's home
game against Atalanta could go ahead.
The whole Serie A season could be compromised unless the
bottom club's games continue.
On Thursday former Parma chairman Tommaso Ghirardi was
placed under investigation for fraudulent bankruptcy.
Also on Thursday, Sky Italia TV warned Serie A that it must
solve the Parma crisis, adding that the clubs had the money to
do so after the payment of the latest installment of the
satellite broadcaster's cash for TV rights.
Bottom side Parma's away game at Genoa was postponed last
weekend, as was their home game the week before against Udinese,
because of their financial plight.
But Tavecchio, the FIGC head, said Wednesday he and Parma
Mayor Pizzarotti had framed a plan to allow Sunday's home game
with Atalanta to go ahead.
Pizzarotti said there was "a 50% chance" of the match
being played.
The news came two days after Giovanni Malago', the head
of Italian Olympic Committee CONI, blasted the buck-passing on
Parma and said the authorities were ready to intervene.
If Parma are unable to complete the championship it will
cause chaos for Italian football.
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