Warrants Are Issued In Italy, The World Holds It's Collective Breath

Italy's most famous export to America, known as D-bag here in the SMiA offices, is now in a little hot water. It seems that extortion and insider trading are punishable offenses in Italy, who knew? I don't know if he'll do any time or even be arrested, but I am in favor of Giorgio going away for a while.

In other legal news, Lazio thinks that they're in store for a point deduction while Fiorentina must be happy that rumors are speculating the same for them. I still don't understand why Milan were able to play Champions League soccer this season and the Viola were not. Anyone out there now the answer to that one?

In video-evidence news, Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic seems to be having a disciplinary problem of late. He was sent off against Bayern Munich a couple of weeks back and is in trouble again, this time in Serie A. Footballers still don't understand that their every move is being photographed and filmed while they're on the pitch. If the evidence shows that he did spit at an opposing player, he should count himself lucky that the precedent for such an offence is a three-match ban. Spitting at someone is easily one of the most despicable and vile actions around.

On to the important news, this weekend's happenings on the pitch. Internazionale were the only top club to come away with a win over the weekend, 2-1 over Catania. Palermo and Roma lost by a goal each, giving Udinese, Siena, and Livorno a hand up in the table. Inter goes into a must-win Champions League encounter on Wednesday leading the table with 14 points. Palermo and Roma trail by two, while the three provincial sides are a further point behind. What of Milan you ask? Thanks to Kakha Kaladze's arm, they were able to salvage a point away to Sampdoria. That leaves them 10 points back of their city rivals.

Next week sees at least three decent match-ups on Sunday: Livorno hosting Siena, Udinese entertaining Inter, and Milan's first real test in Serie A, away to Palermo.

Last but not least, the TV show The Sopranos welcomes a new character. Look for him in the last run of new episodes.

Chinaglia fights extortion charges [Channel 4]
Video evidence to punish Ibra? [Channel 4]
Today in Italy [ESPN Soccernet]

-ac