Vatican City: Pope Francis on Friday warned money &ldquo;risks contaminating&rdquo; football and called for a return to &ldquo;sporting dignity&rdquo; at a Vatican meeting with players from Italian Cup finalists Fiorentina and Napoli.
<img title="Pope Francis" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/Pope-Francis0305.jpg" alt="Pope Francis" /> Pope Francis (right) receives a ball signed by Fiorentina's players at the Vatican yesterday. Pic/AFP.
&ldquo;Football is a big business now because of advertising, TV, et cetera. But the economic factor must not prevail over the sporting one because it risks contaminating everything,&rdquo; he told them.
&ldquo;As a boy, I used to go to the stadium a lot, I have happy memories. Joyful moments, on Sundays, with my family. I hope football and sports in general regains that sense of a celebration,&rdquo; he said.
Napoli are marginal favourites against Fiorentina at the match on Saturday in Rome&rsquo;s Olympic Stadium, hoping to clinch their club&rsquo;s second finals triumph in three years.

Pope Francis on Friday warned money &ldquo;risks contaminating&rdquo; football and called for a return to &ldquo;sporting dignity&rdquo; at a Vatican meeting with players from Italian Cup finalists Fiorentina and Napoli

Money can contaminate football: Pope Francis

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Pope Francis on Friday warned money &ldquo;risks contaminating&rdquo; football and called for a return to &ldquo;sporting dignity&rdquo; at a Vatican meeting with players from Italian Cup finalists Fiorentina and Napoli

Money can contaminate football: Pope Francis

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Money can contaminate football: Pope Francis

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