TROUBLE OFF THE FIELD
Match-fixing is still a plague in Italian football and this is the third consecutive offseason in which Serie A clubs have been up in court. Lazio and Genoa could still be docked points for the role their players had in the scandal, while Lazio captain Stefano Mauri has been banned for six months—and possibly more if the prosecutor wins his appeal. Racism also continues to be a scourge on the national game.
AC Milan player Kevin Constant walked off the field during a preseason friendly at Sassuolo following alleged racial abuse, while the Italian Super Cup was marred by racist chanting.
