Serie A side Parma President Giampietro Manenti "threatened to walk away from the financially-troubled club in view of the treatment he was given by angry fans as he attended a meeting with the city's mayor on Friday," according to Ben Gladwell of ESPN. Manenti "was threatened and almost attacked as he walked to the meeting in the city hall." There, "he was unable to do anything more than repeat the promises he has been making for the past 10 days -- that the outstanding wages are in the process of being paid." Manenti said, "The attack I was subject to on Friday has made me think. I'm considering selling the club to a very big company. I thought that Parma was a peaceful, quiet city. Now there are three options: sell up, hand the books to the tribunal or present a rescue plan to the prosecutors." Should the club be declared bankrupt -- "which is looking increasingly likely" -- all of its remaining league matches will be forfeited. Serie A President Maurizio Beretta said, "It's a very, very complicated situation and it's one we must consider without letting our emotions take a hold" (ESPN, 3/2). FOOTBALL ITALIA reported Parma Mayor Federico Pizzarotti has described Manenti as "not credible," and claimed that "several parties are interested in taking over." Pizzarotti: “Since his arrival, the current owner has not done anything concrete. There have been a lot of words, but nothing substantial" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 3/2).
