Baldini unhappy at Cup green light
Friday, 12 March 2004
Roma director Franco Baldini has condemned Uefa's decision to play Uefa Cup ties on Thursday night on the back of the terrorist attack on Madrid.
The Giallorossi were forced to travel to Villarreal to play their first leg against the Estadio El Madrigal outfit on the same day that killed 198 people.
Baldini believes the match should have been postponed as a mark of respect, a decision Villarreal fully supported the Roman outfit on.
"It's hard for me to speak about football at a time like this," said Baldini.
"Being a club board member, I say we have to follow Uefa indications, but my personal opinion is the match should have been postponed.
"Villarreal officials told us they had no intention to play and we totally sympathised with them, backing their bid to Uefa."
Baldini feels Italy has a close bond with the European neighbours and feels the despicable act reminds him when the Twin Towers in New York suffered at the hands of terrorists.
"Of course, we Italians feel very close to the Spanish in general," he added. "This situation reminds us of September 11.
"We spent the whole afternoon watching the Twin Towers tragedy and then we were forced to play Real Madrid in the evening.
"That night everything looked fake, from the fans' chants to players scoring and cheering.
"If you tell me that playing on is a way to react against these horrible events it does make sense.
"But when I hear people saying the show must go on, I wonder what show are we talking about. Is that a way to make people forget?"