Napoli and Fiorentina could pull out of the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia, while Inter Milan and Lazio will certainly participate.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
The Lega Serie A has confirmed a rescheduling of the Supercoppa Italiana matches.
Initially, the plan had been for the Supercoppa Italiana to take place in the early days of January.
The four teams would play the matches whilst the other teams in Serie A were playing their first matches of the new year.
This would entail rescheduling those matches to later in January.
However, instead the competition will be played later in the month.
The two semifinal matches will take place on the 21st and 22nd of January. And then, the final will be on January 25 – a Sunday.
But for Napoli and Fiorentina, there is some discontent with this idea. The two clubs have threatened to pull out of the competition.
Napoli & Fiorentina Threaten To Pull Out Of Supercoppa – Inter & Lazio Still In
This season, the Supercoppa will switch formats.
Rather than being a one-off match as in previous seasons, it will follow a four-team mini-tournament format.
This will be similar to the Spanish Super Cup.
And, as with last season, the competition is set to take place in Saudi Arabia.
There had already been some reservations from Napoli and Fiorentina regarding playing the matches in Saudi Arabia.
And according to the Gazzetta, the scheduling changes being confirmed has further irked the pair.
The extra travel and matches later in January would not necessarily be ideal for either team in terms of their fixture lists.
According to the Gazzetta, both the Partneopei and La Viola would prefer the matches to take place in Italy.
But that would be plainly off the table. The contract with Saudi organizers has long been signed.
If Napoli and Fiorentina pull out, the Gazzetta report, AC Milan and Atalanta would be ready to take their place.
Meanwhile, the newspaper anticipate, there is no question of Inter and Lazio’s participation.
Both of the pair will play their matches, in Saudi Arabia, on the rescheduled dates.
