Soccer: Footballer - 'I am an artist'

An Italian footballer has made history by avoiding military service after getting himself classified as an artist.

Giuseppe Colucci, a midfielder for Hellas Verona, convinced a Rome court that his skills on the pitch should rule him out of the compulsory 10 months of service.

According to regulations, anyone working in the areas of science, culture or the arts can be excluded.

Talking to Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport, the delighted 21-year-old said: "I am extremely pleased and hope that, in the future, many other players will profit from my example.

"At the moment, I consider myself just a good footballer but maybe someday I will be able to call myself an artist."

The 10 months' conscription is obligatory for all Italian men over the age of 18 but plans to update this system are in place for 2005.