Latest news with #AndreaAbodi
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
WRC closing on long-term Italy commitment
Italy appears set to host a round of the World Rally Championship and European Rally Championship for the foreseeable future with plans for a long-term commitment in the works. Last weekend's Rally Italy Sardinia marked the final event of its current contract with the WRC. Advertisement Sardinia's rough gravel roads have hosted the WRC every year, barring 2009, since the event moved from Sanremo on the mainland in 2004. Italy has also been represented in the WRC by Rally Monza in 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 restrictions were in place. Italy has also been a mainstay on the ERC calendar that has seen the asphalt Rally Di Roma host a round since 2017. Italy's sports minister Andrea Abodi visited last weekend's event where discussions to secure Italy's place on the WRC schedule from 2026 were held. "The Italian sports minister has been here today [Sunday] and we have had a couple of conversations, and what I can say is WRC and Italy are very aligned for a long-term commitment for both the WRC and the ERC," WRC event director Simon Larkin told Advertisement understands that Sardinia is likely to remain on the 2026 calendar, although there is still a desire from Rally di Roma organisers to see their event move to the WRC in the future, as reported last year. Should Rome receive the nod, it would need to expand its itinerary and most likely move its rally base away from the town of Fiuggi to accommodate all the teams and personnel. Read Also: Rally Di Roma outlines project to secure WRC The WRC has welcomed a number of ERC rallies onto its schedule in recent years with Latvia and the Canary Islands graduating to the WRC in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Advertisement The WRC is aiming to finalise its 2026 calendar by July. It has already recently secured a new deal with Rally De Portugal last month, while its main target is to add the USA to its schedule. It was announced in the Canary Islands in April that there was a multi-year contract in place to host a gravel rally based out of Tennessee. The US joining the WRC calendar is however subject to the FIA approving the proposed 2026 calendar. The path to the 2026 calendar is currently being discussed with the national federation ACCUS and the sanctioning body, USA. Satisfying their requirements and concerns is also an important factor in meeting the timetable. To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Angry response as Minister for Sport wants gamblers out of Italy squad
Angry response as Minister for Sport wants gamblers out of Italy squad Angry response as Minister for Sport wants gamblers out of Italy squad Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi has sparked a firestorm by suggesting players involved in the gambling scandal should be cut from the Italy squad. 'The Azzurri jersey should not set a wrong and dangerous example.' Advertisement The issue is back in the headlines after a new investigation pointed towards gambling on illegal websites, including 12 Serie A players. Nicolò Fagioli and Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali both sat out bans in 2024, as they had been betting on football matches, albeit not at any point placing bets against their own teams. They returned to the Nazionale, a decision that seemingly did not sit well with the Italian Minister for Sport, Abodi. CESENA, ITALY – MAY 24:Andrea Abodi during the Women Supercup match betweeen AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Dino Manuzzi Stadium on May 24, 2024 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by) 'The Azzurri jersey must be worn by the best, not just in their behaviour on the field, but behaviour in general,' said Abodi at a press conference. 'I think that, just as the pragmatism and sense of values shown by Luciano Spalletti explained, the Azzurri jersey is an honour. This is not about mortifying anyone, but about responsibility, as we cannot set a wrong and dangerous example. Advertisement 'Federations move autonomously, of course, but these are my thoughts on the matter.' Abodi statement on Italy players prompts angry response EMPOLI, ITALY – JUNE 09: Nicolo Fagioli of Italy in action during an International Friendly between Italy and Bosnia & Herzegovina at Stadio Carlo Castellani on June 09, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by) The comments sparked a firestorm of responses from around the football world, starting with Umberto Calcagno, the President of the Italian Players' Association (AIC). 'I want to point out that the Constitution states penalties are also aimed at re-educating. Anyone who has already dealt with the sporting justice system must be part of our world, completely. After all, Paolo Rossi was at the 1982 World Cup after sitting out a ban, where he made a mistake and paid for it. Advertisement 'Getting him back to the Italy squad added value, both on a sporting and human level.' While in England the approach to gambling addiction has been more understanding, some in Italy are still very harsh on those players who fell into this illness, even if like Fiorentina midfielder Fagioli they were the ones who called the authorities to hand themselves in. As part of his ban, Fagioli has undergone treatment for the gambling addiction and his therapist Paolo Jarre hit out at Abodi. 'It's scandalous, shocking, that the Minister for Sport should publicly reprimand professional athletes who gamble and at the same time promote the abolition of the ban on gambling sites as shirt sponsors,' Jarre told LaPresse agency. Advertisement 'There are banners on the side of the pitch, but that's not enough, they want players to wear on their jerseys the logos of those who promote gambling. It's an insane situation and shows the general hypocrisy around this issue. 'The other hypocrisy of the FIGC is that if someone bets on football, he is suspended, but someone else can go bankrupt and make himself open to blackmail by gambling on tennis, basketball or any other sport. They don't care about that.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bove's return to football remains difficult to envision
Edoardo Bove's return to the field remains a delicate and unresolved issue. As confirmed by the Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi, the issue is being evaluated, with meetings planned between the Italian Sports Medicine Federation and other competent bodies. Meanwhile, from England, there are signs of a possible alignment with the Italian management of similar cases. The Premier League is evaluating a possible change in the rules. Currently, in England, players with a subcutaneous defibrillator can choose to continue playing by taking the risk themselves. However, recently, there have been contacts between the British football authorities and the FMSI to evaluate a more restrictive approach, similar to the Italian one. The main obstacle for Bove is not only the rules, but his clinical picture. According to Il Messaggero, in addition to the rules, the central point remains the evaluation of the previous heart conditions that led to his cardiac arrest. This aspect will require further medical investigations, regardless of any regulatory changes.
