Everything has been blamed from lax laws, to unemployment and the erosion of the Catholic Church and its influence on youth. Of course, this goes beyond the scope of this discussion.

I've also read that money plays a big role too. Translation: the clubs were never really interested in dealing with the issue. Part of this, in their defense, stemmed from the fact that they did not own the stadiums and were limited in what they could do.

While the Italian soccer league had tried at different intervals in 1989, 1995 and as recent as 2005 to deal with the problem, the 1990s was a great decade for Italian soccer both on the international and domestic level. The national side, though without a major title, performed very well.

On the domestic front it was a golden age for Serie A. It was the decade that saw the mighty clubs from AC Milan and Juventus treat Europe as a personal playground. From 1989 to 1999, Italian clubs won 23 cups in five major tournaments.

Success tends to allow you to cover some blemishes.

Like anywhere and with anything, it's always the few that ruin everything for the majority. In Italy, they allowed the few to run a little too freely.

Italy is also a place where soccer reaches its fervent apex. There are soccer mad countries and then there soccer insane countries. Italy is in the insane category.

In the short term, the image of Italian soccer will suffer. Prestige will be hit. Attendance will dip. But that's the price to pay to right the ship.

It's the only way to bring back the true and legendary Italian soccer fans - those who still came and congregated outside the stadiums - and their families back to the "beautiful game."