Just after the calm seemed to have set in and Cagliari appeared to have found a decent home, the club find themselves on the brink of having to start from scratch again.
We have written extensively about Cagliari’s ventures in the past, which needs no repetition, so we will stick with just a summary of the events of the last two weeks:
- The problems started last week when Cagliari’s home match versus AC Milan got prohibited by local authorities as they argued that Stadio Is Arenas still not complied with safety measures for high-profile matches.
- The match was first moved to Stadio Olimpico in Turin, but Cagliari then won an appeal and could play at Stadio Is Arena after all.
- Then, on Thursday, Cagliari-president Cellino and Quarto Sant’Elena major Contini got arrested as part of an investigation into irregularities found in the construction of Stadio Is Arenas.
- The main issue being that Cellino built the stadium on a temporary three-year permit, but in fact built a more permanent structure. In Cellino’s words: “what is temporary in Italy is always forever.”
- At the same time, with the help of major Contini; a friend of Cellino, environmental regulations and required impact assessments were ignored and public documents may have been falsified. Stadio Is Arenas directly borders a nature reserve.
- The prosecutor is now preparing to seize Stadio Is Arenas and is then expected to decide to demolish the stadium, possibly even before the end of the season.
No word yet of what will happen with Cagliari if this scenario indeed becomes reality. For now the club has expressed full support for their president.