Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/315336
23 THE Ducale club beat Torino in the race to finish sixth in Serie A to clinch the final European quali- f ying place. However, the Gialloblu outfit have not been granted a UEFA li- cence by the Italian Football Fed- eration (FIGC) due to financial ir- regularities. "Parma is confident that it will obtain the UEFA licence," Parma sporting and managing director Pietro Leonardi said on the club's official website. "We will have to appeal to the high court of CONI (Italian Olym- pic Committee). But I am calm." Parma have already had their UEFA licence twice rejected by the Italian football bosses due to a dis- pute over income tax on their con- tracted players that have played on loan at other clubs this season. "We have 10 players on loan at other clubs," Leonardi said. "If a player earns 100,000 euros and the team that he is loaned to only pays him 80,000 euros, we have to come up with the remain- ing 20,000. "June 30, 2014, was the date set to pay these players that differ- ence. "But in the best interest of the players, we decided showing gen- erosity, to anticipate the amount with periodic payments. "According to the FIGC, we should have paid income tax on that. "However, our accountants be- lieve this should be paid on June 30, 2014 on the deadline day of the final balance. "Although we didn't agree with their (FIGC) interpretation, we went ahead and paid the 300,000 euros requested one hour after the first hearing. "Are we not going to compete in the Europa League because of this? "It's an issue of interpretation. "We have had to sweat to clinch sixth spot and no-one can say oth- erwise." Clubs must have a UEFA licence to compete in Europe. Parma, coached by Roberto Do- nadoni, have until May 28 to make a final application, which would be reviewed by CONI's High Court of Justice. Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 21 MAY 2014 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Parma hopeful over UEFA licence Parma are hopeful they will get the UEFA licence to compete in next season's Europa League qualifying round Ancelotti confirms Ronaldo, Bale are fully fit for final REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ance- lotti is confident Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will be fit for this weekend's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, but is less certain about Karim Benzema and Pepe. None of the quartet took took part in full squad training on Tues- day, with Ronaldo exercising on his own out on the pitches at Valdebe- bas while Bale, Pepe and Benzema trained alongside long-term injury victim Jese indoors. Ronaldo had been due to start Madrid's final Primera Division game of the season at home to Es- panyol on Saturday after recover- ing from a hamstring injury but ended up sitting out the match after complaining of discomfort in the warm-up. Pepe did not feature either against Espanyol as he continued to recover from a calf injury while Benzema was replaced during the second half of the 3-1 win with an adductor problem. Bale did play the full 90 minutes, though. When asked about the fitness situation on Tuesday, Ancelotti revealed his only serious concerns were Pepe and Benzema. He said: "They're the only two players about whom we have doubts. I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I'm a realist and, as things stand right now, of course they wouldn't be able to play. "We have four days to the final and we'll wait and see. If Pepe can't play, (Raphael) Varane can play in his place. "If there's a risk of injury it's best to leave them out." On world-record signing Bale, who has scored 21 goals in his first season at the Bernabeu despite be- ing affected by various injuries, Ancelotti said: "He's done specific work in the gym. He didn't need to come out on the pitch in today's session. "There's no problem, and I think those two (Bale and Ronaldo) are going to be able to play. "He had a problem initially, but when he found his best physical condition he was a very important player with good numbers in goals and assists. He's very important for the team and it will be the same in the final. "He's very motivated because it's the first Champions League final in his career so I'm sure that he'll have a great game." Ronaldo already has a Champions League winners medal under his belt from his time at Manchester United, but the Portugal captain would relish the chance to lead Ma- drid to what would be a long-await- ed 10th European Cup crown. Asked about his fitness at Tues- day's media open day, the FIFA Bal- lon d'Or winner: "I will be there on Saturday. "I'm still not 100 per cent right now but I will be at the final. It's something very important, we work throughout the year to play in finals and win them. "Nobody wants to miss a final that we've been searching for for many years. I want to help Real Ma- drid achieve it. I'm confident I'll be 100 per cent for the final." "La Decima (the 10th) is the tro- phy that all Madridistas want. I signed for this club to win titles like that." Monaco sack Ranieri, set to appoint Jardim AS Monaco have sacked coach Claudio Ranieri despite two successful years in charge at the club. The former Chelsea boss was ap- pointed in 2012 when Monaco were in Ligue 2 and steered the principality club to second place in the Ligue 1 this season but that was not enough to save his job. Sporting Lisbon coach Leonardo Jardim is widely expected to be named his replacement. The club's vice-president Vadim Vasilyev confirmed the news of Rani- eri's departure saying that the club was looking for a "change of dynamics." "I confirm that Claudio Ranieri is leaving soon. We decided to break up. I would like to pay tribute to Claudio Ranieri, who did a good job," Vasilyev told a news conference. "It is never easy to take a club from Ligue 2 to the Champions League. But we believe that at this stage we need a new dynamic.". Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale Claudio Ranieri