Please don't tell me people want Italy's 'fan culture' in England

It's a complete disgrace. Ultras (read, very often, hooligans, racists and fascists) holding their clubs to ransom and prevening the sport being cleaned up; just as they do in South America.

Elsewhere, Serie A - which when I was growing up, was the absolute benchmark: brilliant players, vibrant supporters, Peter Brackley welcoming us to the San Siro, Ray Wilkins calling everything 'fabulous', James Richardson slurping gelati, reading the Gazzetta and with the best job on planet Earth - has now fallen to 5th in Europe. Below Portugal, for heavens sake.

Stadiums are half full, hooliganism is everywhere, teams are nowhere in Europe, match-fixing is endemic. It's a complete disgrace. UEFA should step in as they did with England 30 years ago; if Italy won't clean up their act, they should be made to instead.

Posted By: thebigfeller, May 3, 20:21:37