Serie A stops for Pope
AFP, Rome
All Italian first and second division matches have been cancelled this weekend, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said on Saturday, as a mark of respect to Pope John Paul II who is close to death. CONI, Italy's highest sports authority, suspended all events in all sports out of respect for the seriously ill pope. Sports federations in this football-crazed country were expected to follow CONI's diplomatically-worded "appeal." "In view of the medical bulletins which underline the inevitable and imminent death of the Holy Father and in respect of the feelings of the athletes, technicians, executives and supporters," CONI boss Giovanni Petrucci urged Italy's sports federations to cancel events. Officials in the central town of Terni immediately contacted the fans of their second division team to tell them not to travel to a football match scheduled Saturday evening in Perugia. Gianfranco Zola, the former Chelsea player who now plays for Cagliari, agreed with the ban.
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