Italian football chief upset with world ranking

Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete has expressed his disappointment with the country’s FIFA world ranking but stressed that it was understandable.

Italy have slumped to 16th in the FIFA list due to be released on Wednesday, a drop from 13th last month due in no small part to their woeful showing at the World Cup in South Africa.

“Being 16th in the FIFA ranking is not befitting of Italy,” said Abete. “But it’s a strange position which takes into account our last results.

“After the terrible result at the World Cup we’ve won two and drawn one in our three European Championship qualifiers.

“But this ranking also takes into account the level of our opponents (Northern Ireland, Estonia and Faroe Islands).

“Unfortunately there’s a risk that we will stay there for a while but we’re convinced and determined to return to the top.”

Abete also declined to speculate on what sanctions Italy may face for failing to control Serbian hooligans who disrupted and caused the abandonment of last Tuesday’s Euro qualifier against Serbia in Genoa.

Serbia ae likely to face punishment as it was their fans who caused the trouble, but Italy may also be penalised for not providing adequate security.

“There’s no point in speculating, we’re waiting for UEFA’s Disciplinary Commission’s decision with confidence,” he said before suggesting that he was expecting compensation.

“We don’t want to make money out of these events but obviously we suffered damages to our image and our territory.

“This has never before happened in the history of the Italian national team.

“But it’s clear that a message must be sent out against football-related violence.”

Following the violence last week, 16 people were taken to hospital and 36 Serbs were arrested.

Hooligans threw flares onto the pitch at at rival Italy supporters at the Marassi stadium before clashing with police outside the ground.