Pope Francis receives a soccer ball from Napoli coach Rafael Benitez, at the Vatican. Picture: L'Osservatore Romano Source: AP
POPE Francis on Friday warned money risks contaminating soccer and called for a return to sporting dignity at a Vatican meeting with players from Italian Cup finalists Fiorentina and Napoli.
“Football is a big business now because of advertising, television etcetera. But the economic factor must not prevail over the sporting one because it risks contaminating everything,” he told them.
Pope Francis delivers his speech at a Vatican meeting with players from Italian Cup finalists Fiorentina and Napoli. Picture: L'Osservatore Romano Source: AP
“As a boy, I used to go to the stadium a lot. I have happy memories - joyful moments, on Sundays, with my family. I hope football and sports in general regains that sense of a celebration,” he said.
He also said soccer players had a great responsibility because young people looked up to them, telling them: “Your behaviour has a resonance, for better or worse”.
Napoli are the slight favourites against Fiorentina in Saturday’s cup final in Rome’s Olympic Stadium, hoping to clinch their club’s second finals triumph in three years.
Pope Francis receives a ball, pennant and shirt from Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella (second left). Picture: L'Osservatore Romano Source: AP
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