SYDNEY The CONI writes a letter of apology to the international federation, the bench of Ratko Rudic, disqualified for a year, wobbles dangerously and the technician could risk the exemption in the next months, all the Azzurri have been imposed the silence of the press: it is a earthquake in the world of Italian water polo the day after the elimination from the Olympics and the dust raised by the blue coach. Who shed heavy suspicions after the knockout with Hungary and the elimination from the quarters: “They wanted to kill Italy, there must have been a secret meeting, a plan to eliminate us. There must be something underneath,” he said. As expected, the technical committee used the heavy hand: Rudic was heard in the morning and denied ever speaking of a secret meeting. To nail him, however, in addition to the Italian press, an article in an Australian newspaper in which he reported all his outburst. The punishment is unprecedented in the history of the Games and of the most important international competitions. “Better a year than life imprisonment”, he let the technician escape between the serious and the playful.

Within thirty days the Italian federation will present the appeal and then it will be seen if the disqualification will be reduced. Rudic can continue to train, but not in Fina competitions, ie World Championships (scheduled for July next year) and Olympics. In addition to the coach, the brothers Alessandro (two days) and Roberto (four days) Calcaterra and goalkeeper Francesco Attolico (one round) were disqualified, for which the appeal presented by the Italian staff was rejected. No one stops instead for Francesco Postiglione who was expelled by the referee in the first minutes of the match. Coni did not like the brawl in the water and Rudic’s statements. Who took a pen and paper and wrote a letter to the international federation to try to resolve the situation. “We respect the decisions that have been taken,” explained the head of the Italian delegation, Raffaele Pagnozzi. “For now I don’t want to comment, I will do it on Monday when we take stock of the expedition to Sydney,” said CONI president Gianni Petrucci. Rudic, whose contract will expire between 30 September 2001, is he in danger? Yes, because the image damage was great and because the CONI seems intent on not passing over this story that has created quite a few political embarrassments. In view there are several reversals, but everything will be decided in the coming months, probably in the autumn when the elections for the presidency of the swimming federation will take place, a police station for a year and a half. On the field, meanwhile, Italy beat Australia 7-4 and tomorrow will meet the United States for fifth place. Decisive match: whoever wins is qualified for the World Cup next year.