Serie A is home to the occasional bouts of craziness that come from Presidents, Coaches, players and supporters, so it is very hard to surprise us anymore. Massimo Cellino is regularly a provider of daft stories, but even he has gone too far this time. The Cagliari President publicly invited season ticket holders to attend today’s game with Roma at the Is Arenas, despite the fact it had been ordered behind closed doors due to security fears. Naturally, it was called off and now the Sardinians risk an automatic defeat or points penalty.

What exactly did Cellino think was going to happen? That the crowds of ultras would just be allowed in and suddenly the authorities would change their minds? ‘No, you’re right, it DOES look really safe now there are loads of people in the stands. Silly us, we do apologise.’

If the stadium has been closed, then one can only assume there is a reason for it. Inviting fans to attend anyway was unbelievably irresponsible. Imagine if the game had gone ahead with hundreds of supporters crowded outside, unable to get in. It’s an incitement to riot. Or if the police had allowed them into the Is Arenas and the fears over public safety were realised, leading to an injury or worse.

As things stand, Cagliari are probably going to lose the game automatically and maybe even receive a points penalty for making it impossible for the fixture to go ahead. The Sardinians also managed to pull out of a match against Roma when Francesco Totti, Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Daniele De Rossi were injured. Genius. Cellino, you’ve earned yourself the sarcastic slow handclap of shame.