[Fillipo Simone]

Maldini Criticises Milan Tifosi

Milan legend Paolo Maldini has launched a surprise attack on the Rossoneri fans for not singing and cheering on their team enough during games.

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was conspicuously quiet during Milan’s 2-1 victory over Benfica on Tuesday evening and Maldini admits he was not impressed. 

“The Milan supporters? I was displeased. In fact I got very angry as did many of my team-mates,” said Maldini. 

“After everything we have done for the supporters and all the trophies we have won, we deserve some better treatment.  “This attitude began in the derby last year. With the help of the crowd we would not have lost the game that day.” 

The 39-year-old Maldini is set to retire at the end of the season after a glittering career. The defender made his debut for the Rossoneri almost 23 years ago in 1985 and has since gone on to win every club honour in the game, including seven league championships and five Champions League titles. 

The great is also the most capped Italian international of all time, having played 126 times for his country. The stopper played in four World Cups and three European Championships but never won a major international trophy, despite appearances in the final of USA 94’ and Euro 2000.

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[Tennie]

I think a lot of it is politics: banners, ticket prices, other 'perks' the Ultras want, etc etc etc. The lack of multiple name signings is probably part of it, but remember: Milan isn't Chelsea or Madrid, where many big names come in each year. At Milan, it's usually one or two a year and often not big names.

(The subtitle in the Gazzetta article is 'trouble with the ultras').

EDIT:

Here's part of an article explaining what's going on and why(link):

[Quick translation: The curva is silent because of threats. The bosses of the curva are keeping others silent due to threats and because the people doing the threatening are already under investigation for murder and other serious crimes, it isn't a laughing matter. The Milan police have undercover people throughout the stadium on game days, but it is a difficult and complex matter.

Since last May, not long before the CL final, Adriano Galliani has been the subject of serious threats and the Interior Ministry has assigned him 24/7 guard. The bosses of the Curva Sud expect from Milan what Milan cannot give: tickets and other favors to be doled out to the other tifosi. This (what the bosses want) is illegal and violation of the Amati decree, which became law after the tragedy in Catania in February. Tickets have to be sold to individuals who have to provide ID. To give tickets to the curva bosses to sell - at inflated prices - is illegal and would be prosecuted.]

Yes it would be nice to have loud fans cheering us on, but not if it comes at the cost of caving in to people who make threats etc.

I think the club is doing the right thing.

AL LAVORO - Il silenzio di San Siro, di tutto San Siro, è figlio delle minacce. Questo è un fatto acclarato. I cosiddetti padroni della curva Sud impediscono agli altri di fare il tifo e, siccome si sta parlando di persone che hanno già ricevuto avvisi di garanzia per tentato omicidio e altri reati, c’è ben poco da scherzare. La questura di Milano, che sta lavorando a pieno ritmo su questa faccenda che puzza di criminalità ordinaria e organizzata, ha piazzato agenti in borghese, in curva, durante le partite interne del Milan. Ancora, tuttavia, non si è arrivati alla conclusione delle indagini che, lo dicono espressamente i dirigenti della questura, è difficile e complessa.
LA SCORTA - Dalla metà di maggio, cioè da poco prima prima della finale di Champions League di Atene, anche Adriano Galliani è oggetto di pesanti minacce e il ministero dell’Interno gli ha assegnato una scorta ventiquattr’ore su ventiquattro. I boss della curva Sud pretendono dalla società ciò che la società non può dare: biglietti e altri favori da gestire direttamente con gli altri tifosi. Tutto ciò è in contrasto con la legge e con il decreto Amato, emesso dopo i tragici fatti di Catania del febbraio scorso. I biglietti, infatti, adesso sono nominali e, per quanto ci possano essere negligenze nei controlli, i club o le società che gestiscono la vendita possono cederli soltanto se viene presentato un documento d’identità. In caso contrario, cioè se dessero un quantitativo di tagliandi in mano ai tifosi affinché fossero loro a distribuirli (ovviamente a prezzi maggiorati), sarebbero perseguibili penalmente.

This post has been edited by Tennie: Sep 21 2007, 04:41 PM