Cagliari forced to forfeit Roma match

Roma have been awarded a 3-0 victory after Sunday's match at Cagliari was called off following the Sardinian club's decision to defy orders to exclude fans from their new stadium.
The Rossoblu had been due to face Roma behind closed doors at their new Is Arenas base after the new stadium once again failed to meet the necessary safety standards.
However, on Saturday Cagliari club president Massimo Cellino had instructed season-ticket holders to flock to Quartu Sant'Elena regardless, prompting an emergency overnight meeting between the Cagliari Prefecture and local police.
As a result, the Cagliari Prefecture and the Italian Football Federation issued a statement confirming the postponement, and possible forfeiture, of the game.
Article 17 of Federcalcio, the rules that govern Italian football, states: "Clubs are responsible for the fact that any acts interrupting the smooth running of a game can be punished with the loss of that match with a scoreline of 0-3 awarded."
On Monday it was announced the league had imposed such a punishment on Cagliari within Official Statement 51.
It read: "The resolution. To sanction the Soc Cagliari with the loss of the match with a score of 0-3 (zero to three), also providing the transmission of a copy of the records to the Federal Attorney General of jurisdiction over the conduct of the President of the Company."
It added: "The judge...considered that the initiative taken by the provocative Soc Cagliari constitutes a blatant violation of Article. 12, n. 2 CGS, which requires strict compliance with the Company regulations issued by public authorities in matters of public safety, and the fact that such breach has been the direct cause of the impediment to the regular and exclusive carrying out of the game."
The decision sees Roma move up five places to fifth above Fiorentina with seven points and while it does not change Cagliari's position it means their goal difference is now adversely affected.
Cagliari moved out of their former Stadio Sant'Elia home in March, playing the remaining home games of the 2011/12 season at Trieste's Stadio Nereo Rocco, nearly 700 miles away from the Sardinian capital.