Carraro optimistic despite "horrible" first year
Franco Carraro
ROME (AFP) - Franco Carraro on Friday described his first year as president of the Italian football federation (FIGC) as "horrible".
Carraro, however, remains optimistic despite a grim 12 months during which former Series A giants Fiorentina went out of business, cash-strapped Lazio were put up for sale, Italy were controversially dumped out of the World Cup by South Korea and hooliganism reared its ugly head once again.
"The state of football is a difficult subject," Carraro told the Corriere della Sera.
"There's no doubt that 2002 was a horrible
year for our sport, but I'm still optimistic about the future."
Carraro believes spiralling wages are to blame for the current
financial crisis gripping many of Italy's clubs.