Livorno hand reprieve to Arrigoni

Players' appeal
Sunday's loss left the side 12th in Serie A with 22 points from 19 games, and Livorno president Aldo Spinelli had said: "I am ashamed by our performance. My only option is sacking the coach." However, Spinelli has changed his mind following talks with the players. He said: "The players are defending Arrigoni. We analysed the situation and they have accepted part of the blame for what happened against Atalanta."

European hope
Spinelli met with Arrigoni this morning and told the 47-year-old of his decision. "Everything has been resolved," he said. Arrigoni, who joined Livorno in May 2006 after previously working at Cagliari Calcio, has helped the club to the UEFA Cup's Round of 32. He will therefore be on the bench when the team from Tuscany take on RCD Espanyol over two legs next month.