Gianfranco Zola scored on his league debut for second division side Cagliari as the Italian Serie B season began in chaos on Sunday.

The former Chelsea forward struck the third goal in his side's 3-0 away win against Catania on a day when only two of the 12 scheduled matches took place as clubs boycotted the championship in protest at the expansion of their division to 24 teams.

The lack of on-pitch action did not, however, appear to disturb Italian Football League president Adriano Galliani, who insisted that the results would stand and that rebel clubs would be punished.

"The championship has begun," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

"They're playing two matches and there were other teams willing to play. The next round of matches is scheduled for Thursday. I hope everyone will play.

"I have a calendar (of fixtures) that I received from the Italian Football Federation on August 21, and I intend to respect it."

In the other match to go ahead, Como beat Napoli 1-0.

The controversy began in August when the Italian Football Federation readmitted relegated sides Catania, Genoa and Salernitana to the second division, along with Florence side Fiorentina.

The move was forced on the Federation when Catania won a legal action against relegation.

The decision provoked 19 Serie B clubs to boycott the start of the season, which had originally been scheduled for August 30.

After a midweek meeting of the Football League, which represents clubs in Italy's top two divisions, failed to persuade them to accept an enlarged league, Galliani simply ordered Serie B teams to play, threatening automatic 3-0 defeats for those who refused.

Whether he will now carry out those threats is not yet clear.

What is obvious is that the strongarm tactics are not working and the deadlock shows no sign of ending before the next round of matches on Thursday.

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