Verdict in Italy; Arena Out; Barca in Houston
By Nick Barbaro, 5:46PM, Tue. Jul. 25, 2006
The Italian match-fixing scandal boiled over last Friday, as Juventus, Lazio, and Fiorentina were demoted to the second division, while Silvio Berlusconi's AC Milan avoided demotion but got a 15-point penalty for the coming season, and a ban from European play. Juve was also stripped of its last two Serie A titles, and given a 30-point penalty for next season, meaning it's almost certain to spend at least two years in the minor league. All four clubs will appeal the ruling; meanwhile, criminal probes are ongoing as well.
Also on Friday, U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena was axed by the U.S. Soccer Federation. His likely successor? Speculation centers on Juergen Klinsmann, who lives in California, and resigned as the German head coach just after the World Cup. As for Arena, he was out of a job for just three days, before being hired by the New York Red Bulls on Tuesday.
Reigning European champs FC Barcelona will be at Houston's Reliant Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 9 to play Mexican side Club America, current CONCACAF champions, as part of a doubleheader with the Houston Dynamo and
L.A. Galaxy. Barcelona's U.S. tour will also take them to Los Angeles on Aug. 6 and New York on Aug. 12.
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