Soccer: RAI to cut replays to ease tensions in Serie A
State broadcaster to analyse just three cases per weekend
27 July, 13:24
(ANSA) - Rome, July 27 - State broadcaster RAI has said it
will slash the use of replays of controversial decisions in its
Serie A coverage next season to promote a healthier sporting
culture in Italy.Italian football has a major hooliganism problem and high-voltage televised rows over contentious calls are frequently blamed as a contributory factor when tensions spill over.
''We won't ignore events,'' said Eugenio De Paoli, the head of RAI Sport. ''We have reached an exclusive agreement with the Italian Referees Association (AIA) to set up a 'supreme court' which will look at three controversial cases from the weekend's action identified by us at RAI''.
Match officials have welcomed the move. AIA chief Marcello Nicchi described it as a ''revolutionary initiative for (sporting) culture''. Rival networks Sky and Mediaset, however, said that they do not intend to follow suit. ''We are going to continue down our road,'' said Alberto Brandi, the presenter of popular Mediaset soccer show Controcampo.
''We have never gone over the top with our use of replays, but we feel talking about the main controversial episodes is unavoidable.
''The concept of a 'supreme court' sounds mistaken to me, as in most cases there is no clear, objective truth''.
