By Aris Barkas
There is tension in Italy with Sergio Scariolo, the coach of Armani Milano and also of the Spanish national team, attacking the coach of Siena Simone Pianigiani who is also the coach of the Italian national team.
Scariolo said on record in the Italian media: “Almost everywhere in the world, it is considered a conflict of interests to coach the national team and also a club of the same country. When I was offered the chance to be the coach of the Spanish national team, I had to give up a great job in a Spanish club. But when I came back to Italy, I realized that this rule is sacred. I respect Pianigiani and I think that he is the right person to coach the best team in Italy and the Italian national team, but if this is banned in the most developed basketball countries, there must be a reason”.
This is the second time in five days that the coach of Milano is leaving innuendos about the situation in the Italian basketball. His first “hit” was in the radio show “Palla a Spicchi” where Scariolo said: “The atmosphere is rancid, there is lobbying, festering situations and untouchable powers. A system in which a cast who had the opportunity and the responsibility not to downgrade basketball, had not done nothing more than to cultivate its own interests”.
When Scariolo was asked to clarify what he meant, he answered that he would be happy to inform the sports authorities. By the way, Siena is first in the Italian championship’s standings and Milano is fifth.