Parma make Mero gesture

Parma AC have made a donation to the widow of Brescia Calcio defender Vittorio Mero after the player was killed hours before the two sides were due to play the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie last month.

Match cancelled
The 27-year-old Mero was involved in a car accident on the A/4 motorway outside Brescia heading towards Venice on 23 January. Brescia's players heard the news shortly before kick-off at the Ennio Tardini stadium and immediately left for the dressing rooms. The match was cancelled and played the following week, Parma running out 2-0 winners.

Cash sum
Parma president Stefano Tanzi decided to donate the gate receipts from the rescheduled game and an additional cash sum for the same amount to Mero's wife. General manager Luca Baraldi handed a cheque over to Mrs Mero at the club's stadium on Thursday.

Former Parma player
Mero, a reserve team player at Parma in the 1992/93 season, had made eight league appearances for Brescia this season. His final match for the club was against Milan AC at the San Siro on 13 January when he came on as a last-minute substitute. He joined Brescia from US Ravenna in 1998 and was a member of the side that won promotion to Serie A in 1999/00.

Juventus showdown
Parma overcame Brescia 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final, despite losing the second leg 2-1. They will face Juventus FC, conquerors of Milan AC, in the two-legged final.