Italians want Platt to go home

Italian soccer officials have begun a campaign to kill off David Platt's coaching career at Sampdoria even before it's started.

Platt does not have a coaching qualification which entitles him to take charge of the Serie A club and its president, Enrico Mantovani, was told at a top-level meeting on Thursday night: "Drop Platt or else".

Trouble has been brewing all week for the former England and his future in Italy is now clearly in doubt.

Mantovani was read the riot act by the soccer federation's technical chief, Mario Valitutti, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Valitutti spelled out that since Platt does not have the necessary licence, he cannot have anything to do with the first-team squad, whatever title Sampdoria choose to give him. Platt is currently a "supervisor."

If Platt takes a training session during the week, the federation will immediately take disciplinary proceedings against both the club and Platt. Valitutti is furious because in behind-the-scenes calls to the club's managing director Emiliano Salvarezza and sporting director Domenico Arnuzzo earlier in the week he had already warned that the Platt deal was not on.

Not only did the club ignore the warnings, but they also refused to take up Valitutti's suggestion that Platt be hired instead to coach the youth squad.

That would give the 32-year-old former Sampdoria playmaker time to study for the top level ("prima categoria") exams which lead to a Serie A team certificate.