Ancona is a classic example of how Italian football works outside the big teams: it makes a run to Serie A, usually on the back of some dubiously-financed ownership, gets relegated, goes bust, then has to start over in C1 or C2. The one thing you can say about being funded by the CSI is that it should free the club from that cycle. Let's put the 'new standard of ethics' thing to one side for a moment. The problem with Italian football is that it's wrapped up in the corruption of Italian government and business life. Unfit stadiums get re-certified by local mayors because they're intimidated by the ultras and the club board; top clubs are not just the playthings of multi-millionaires, but an integral part of the financial and media rackets they run. Now, the Catholic church isn't free from corruption, but by Italian standards, it's less subject to the kinds of local pressures that have plagued the game.
"Give us some favourable decisions, ref, or my God will spank you!"
Huh. I had heard that Vatican would be fielding a pro squad soon, but I thought that it would be the surprisingly good Swiss guards/priest team I saw at an annual charity game.
And I hear they're working on a new movie... "Bend it like Benedict".
"He didn't dive.... He's praying." "And all the writhing around?" "...... Speaking in tongues?"
I can't get past the concept of the Roman Catholic Church presenting itself as a ethical guide for anyone. This the same organization that has condoned the widespread and continued molestation of children, for decades, by priests in cities around the world.
Yes, the church has clearly condoned it and is trying to work that into its marketing content. NAMBLA + Church = Sunday Fun.
Yes, the church has clearly condoned it and is trying to work that into its marketing content. NAMBLA + Church = Sunday Fun. Definition of condone: 1. to disregard, or overlook(something illegal, objectionable, or the like). 2. to give tacit approval to (by his silence, he seemed to condone their behaviour). Seems like the correct usage of the word to me.
I had heard that Vatican would be fielding a pro squad soon, Will they enter the World Cup? become members of UEFA? Who gets be eligible - any Catholic?
Think what this does for impartial officiating (I know, a contradiction of terms) in games with this team. One red card and you are ex-communicated.
I guess you have to say "Hail Mary's" and do some sort of penance for a yellow card.
I went to a NAMBLA meeting a few years back thinking it was the North American Marijuana Bi-law Association. Boy was I surprised. I kid, I Kid
I kid, I Kid Dude, that's a rough one.
Will they enter the World Cup? become members of UEFA? Who gets be eligible - any Catholic? I had assumed that they would start out in a lower league like C1 or C2 and work their way up. Again, I heard this during said charity game and assumed that the squad playing (Swiss Guards) was the target of the hearsay. Digging slightly deeper, the Vatican has had an internal competition for years, the Vatican Cup, which is one of those little pieces of trivia I had forgotten about. And a second tournament I wasn't aware of, the Clericus Cup, sprung up earlier this year. The former is for Vatican workers (ie aforementioned Swiss Guards, Vatican museum curators) and the latter is teams from seminaries & pontifical colleges.
