Old Cathedral Falling To Booters, Not Looters

Soccer is bringing down the church.

A city councilor advanced that theory after a marble chunk of Naples’ main cathedral broke off Friday.

Fabio Avitabile said ricocheting soccer balls over the years have loosened the facade of the cathedral, built in 1294 and rebuilt after being destroyed in a 15th century earthquake.

Other bits of the cathedral have broken off recently, Avitabile said. He promised to seek a ban on afternoon soccer games in the plaza adjacent to the cathedral.