Guglielmo Stendardo looks set to receive a hefty fine from Atalanta after the player pulled out from Tuesday’s Coppa Italia match in order to write a law exam.
The player was set to play in the match, but his withdrawal has left the Bergamo club fuming with a fine and exclusion from Sunday’s match against Juventus likely.
“Guglielmo only told us about the exam last Thursday. If he had asked for the time off at an earlier date, we could have organised something,” coach Stefano Colantuono explained.
“There are rules. We are all at the service of Atalanta as we are well paid professionals. Sometimes exceptions can be made, as has already happened with Stendardo, but this time it is a delicate situation.”
Atalanta director general Pierpaolo Marino also gave his view on the situation.
“There will be probably be sanctions due to the rules of the locker room, as you need to ask the coach for time off. Stendardo had already told me about the exam a month ago, but I told him to bring the matter up to Colantuono.”
Not everyone agrees with Atalanta’s stance, as CONI President Gianni Petrucci and Players’ Association President Damiano Tommasi have given their support to Stendardo.
“Football takes itself too seriously at times,” Petrucci lamented.
“When faced with an important exam to become a lawyer, how can you say there’s a contract that must be respected? Where is the use of common sense? He was only exercising his rights.”
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
