League freezes Lazio transfers
Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Article summary
S.S. Lazio have had three transfer deals annulled by the Italian Football League.
Article body
S.S. Lazio have had three transfer deals annulled by the Italian Football League (Lega Calcio) due to the club's parlous financial state.
Not approved
The league said in a statement that it had not approved the transfers of Christian Manfredini and the Brazilian Eriberto from AC Chievo Verona nor Massimo Oddo's move from Hellas-Verona FC to the Rome club. Lazio were not immediately available for comment
Financial problems
The ruling means that the three players will now have to return to their original clubs unless they can arrange new moves or Lazio can produce guarantees of their ability to pay for the players. The decision is the latest sign of the financial problems presently afflicting the Italian game.
In limbo
Oddo, who is training with the Italian national team ahead of tomorrow's friendly with Slovenia, may yet be forced to return to Verona, who were relegated to Serie B last season. Manfredini and Eriberto were two of the key players in Chievo's impressive debut season in Serie A, which saw them finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Cup. Lazio also secured a UEFA Cup place by finishing sixth.
