Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos have purchased an ownership stake in Italian soccer club ASD Campobasso 1919. The duo become the latest Hollywood group to invest in a foreign soccer team. The Italian club currently competes in the Eccelenza, the fifth tier of the country's soccer pyramid. Campobasso played in the third tier of […]

Milan (AFP) – Some of Italian football's top figures could breath a sigh of relief on Friday after the country's football federation acquited everyone brought to its tribunal over suspicious transfer dealings. Juventus and Napoli chairmen Andrea Agnelli and Aurelio De Laurentiis were among 61 people before the FIGC's tribunal for their alleged roles in […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian football chief Gabriele Gravina says the country's FA has approved regulations that will stop clubs from overspending on transfers in an attempt to reverse the deep financial problems exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. In an interview with AFP, Gravina said the football federation (FIGC) has given the green light to a […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy left-back Leonardo Spinazzola ruptured an Achilles tendon in his team's 2-1 Euro 2020 quarter-final win over Belgium, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed on Saturday. "Tests carried out at Rome's Sant'Andrea hospital confirmed the subcutaneous rupture of the left Achilles tendon," the FIGC said in a statement, adding "the player will […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Italy coach Giampiero Ventura has axed Graziano Pelle for this weekend's World Cup qualifier against Macedonia, accusing the striker of "disrespect". The Chinese-based former Southampton forward has paid the price for failing to shake his coach's hand when he was substituted in Thursday's 1-1 draw against Spain. "Manager Giampero Ventura, in […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Italy coach Giam Piero Ventura admitted there's work to do after an outclassed Azzurri stumbled to a 1-1 World Cup 2018 qualifying draw with Spain on Thursday. Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi levelled from the spot eight minutes from time as Italy grabbed a lucky point after Sevilla forward Vitolo had […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci believes Italy will have to reproduce their stirring Euro 2016 last 16 victory over Spain if they are to beat 'La Roja' in Turin on Thursday. Italy began their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign against Israel last month when Bonucci, despite undergoing a family crisis, was part of […]

Milan (AFP) – Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian was among four returnees named in the Italy squad Saturday for 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Macedonia. Italy, who impressed on their way to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, began their qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win away to Israel in what was new coach Gian […]

Haifa (Israel) (AFP) – Italy, reduced to 10-men, got their 2018 World Cup qualifying off to an impressive start by defeating Israel 3-1 in-front of a sold-out Sammy Offer stadium in Haifa Monday. The victory marked new Italian manager Giampiero Ventura's first win as Azzurri boss. He said: "I won't say our performance was perfect, […]

Rome (AFP) – Torino striker Andrea Belotti has been ruled out of Italy's opening World Cup qualifier in Israel on Monday due to injury, the Italian Football Federation confirmed. The 22-year-old Belotti, who won his first cap in Thursday's 3-1 friendly defeat to France in Bari, has a thigh injury. Italy face Israel in Haifa […]

Haifa (Israel) (AFP) – New Italy coach Giampiero Ventura said he was unconcerned by Thursday's home defeat to France ahead of his team's opening World Cup qualifier in Israel on Monday. The 2006 World Cup champions slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Bari on Thursday but Ventura, who took over the Azzurri hotseat from new […]

Rome (AFP) – New Italy coach Giampiero Ventura said on Tuesday that he wanted to build on the foundations laid by his predecessor Antonio Conte by adding more youth to the squad. An ageing Italy outfit impressed in Euro 2016, where they chalked up excellent wins over Belgium and Spain, only to be beaten in […]

Milan (AFP) – New Italy coach Giampiero Ventura hinted Tuesday that striker Graziano Pelle could risk his Azzurri place following a recent move to China, and gave Mario Balotelli little chance of returning to the national team. Pelle, 31, scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for Southampton following his arrival from Feyenoord in 2014 and […]

Milan (AFP) – New Italy coach Giampiero Ventura pledged to continue the good work of his predecessor Antonio Conte and "entertain" fans on their way to securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Ventura was on Tuesday unveiled as the successor to Conte, who led Italy to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 […]

Italy coach Antonio Conte handed first call-ups to Brazil-born Napoli midfielder Jorginho and Fiorentina forward Federico Bernardeschi, but left Mario Balotelli on the sidelines Saturday for upcoming friendlies with Spain and Germany. As part of the build-up to this summer's Euro 2016, Italy will host defending champions Spain this Thursday in Udine in a repeat […]