Tifosi v Cagliari
A TESTING week for the Italians. They received visits from John Major, J. Dan- forth Quayle, Colin Moynihan and me. Mr Quayle had the chance to brush up on his geography and pass a few tips to the Pope. The Chancellor and I were examining Italy's progress towards the single market. We have not yet compared notes, but I can tell him that the five Portuguese birds who nested in my Florentine flat have flown their grants not renewed, doubtless as a measure of economy after $130 million of Portugal's gold reserves proved to have been lent to that junk-heap, Drexel Burn- ham. I can also tell him that for all Italy's professed commitment to the free move- ment of money in Europe, I still have to transfer sterling into my Italian bank account before it can be used to pay the Florentine gas bill. Mine is an external account, such as his predecessors abo- lished, along with exchange control, ten years ago. As for Mr Moynihan, he evidently takes his duties as Sports Minis- ter seriously, however difficult that may be. In March I noticed him at Cheltenham, checking out that sober and orderly scene. In Italy he was preparing the way for our football supporters, known as tifosi, but all is in hand. They are being diverted to Cagliari in Sardinia, where, I am told, their hosts will give them a run for their money. Survivors will then be invited to swim home.
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