CIAO

Italian football, which built up a loyal following on Channel 4 during the 1990s, will disappear from our screens this coming season. Channel 4 say they have been unable to reach an agreement to renew their contract after what they call unreal expectations on the part of the Italians. Serie A matches, presented by the excellent James Richardson, became a feature of Sunday afternoons after C4 started screening them live in 1992. Although latterly C4 broadcast only recorded coverage, audiences remained good. Channel 4 say that their attempts to negotiate a new deal were not helped by the confusion in the Italian game caused by serious financial problems. It is not expected that any other broadcaster will pursue Italian football, which has fallen behind the Spanish league in the European glamour stakes.