ashame for our soccer
I couldn't find any word to comment the death of a Parma supporter during a fight between Juventus and Parma suppoorter (and I support Juventus). Apparently, we never learn. I don't want to talk about the stupid laws that rule our even more stupid soccer, no one is never guilty in Italy.

I just think that soccer, exactely like AFL or NRL should be a sport. And as a sport, it should be fun, it should be for families, it should be something I go to watch without thinking or being scared that my life is in danger.

Thanks to some idiots, people like me lose his passion. Foremost, the sport itself loses its meaning.

There is a lot to think about!

From what I read in La Gazetta Dello Sport with some savage Google translation:

Juve fans rock up in a bus where Parma fans alreayd are. Parma fans chuck objects at the bus of Juve. Juve driver freaks out and goes to drive off and runs over a Parma fan walking around.

Silly behaviour on both sides, but if he stayed out of it he probably wouldn't have been run over.

In Australia the A-League is very family friendly and we don't have this issue.

The problem is in Italy, and many argue that this is not a football issue, rather it is just a reflection of Italian society. That if they were playing any other sport on that pitch the problems would still occur.

More frightening to me is that when looking at the La Gazetta Dello Sport website (which is Italy's largest newspaper), the death was only the second news item after the Milan loss.

Here is the Official Communication posted by the Boys Parma 1977, Parma's main ultras group, of which Matteo Bagnaresi was a member. Make of it what you will.


30 - 03 - 2008

Matteo, "Il Bagna", was an ultra, a member of Boys Parma 1977. He was a young man of 27 years, with a family, a job and many passions. Among which was Parma Football Club. He followed the team home and away and was an active participant in supporting the team.

This afternoon Il Bagna died. He died in a motorway service station, under the frightened gaze of his brothers. Never again will we see his timid smile, never again will we hear his friendly and sanguine voice. Something dear to us, to which we were accustomed, has been suddenly snatched away. And now we feel its absence fiercely.
This is the moment for tears and sadness. For his family, for his friends, for his loved ones. And it is the moment for respect and silence, for those who have a heart and a conscience.

But some people never stop, even in the face of death. They twist the facts, and thanks to a thousand lies, a young life destroyed becomes a means to sustain theories, hold forth, invent scoops. A work of disinformation which develops into truly vulgar profiteering.

There are stories of chains, bars and cudgels. But neither we nor the juventini were armed. There are stories of fighting and brawling, but the two factions never came to blows. There are stories once again about violent supporters and the wish to suspend all away travel, but Il Bagna wasn't killed by other ultras, he died under the wheels of a coach.

Another bloody event, but the ultra is not the aggressor. He is the victim.
The truth should be respected, as should the memory of a young man who is no more, and the pain of those who loved Matteo.


RIP

It happened again! It's madness! It's sheer madness. Fans, police, everybody is at risk. No wonder Serie A attendances are declining. When are they going to realise that running around fighting over football teams is pointless, childish, plain stupid?

Italian police say it was an accident, the bus driver sped away when Parma fans started to threaten Juve fans and didn't see Matteo Bagnaresi, who was right in front of the bus. But it was an accident caused by stupid and reckless and inexcusable behaviour.

I am a devoted follower of Italian soccer, I hope it manages to sort out its problems. I even like the Ultras, that is, I like their spectacular coreographys and unending support. But this macho-aggressive posturing and fighting over nothing at all is crap and, to put it plainly, unfit behaviour for grown men. Get a grip, mates!

1. You can't buy a ticket game day
2. You have to produce id when buying and at game day
3. Which also means you cant get a mate to buy tickets, or give away tickets.
4. Also the increased sale price for tickets
5. The pay-tv cheap matchday viewing
6. When there were no restrictions on the curva's you could get eg. 20 000 in the curvas, now restrictions have meant most people have to buy more expensive tickets outside the curva.

Just say your family lives 2 hours away from Roma by train. Do you expect them to find the time to make a 2 hour trip to Rome during the week to buy tickets with their ID etc. for the game on the weekend?

The fact they dont sell tickets on matchday anymore is why the crowds are dying. People cant decide anymore on the Sunday that they want to go to the game.

Consider this
Did you that in Italy some fans travel on protected trains when to go to support their team away? Those trains are constantly checked and controlled by the police, which makes sure fans from opposite sides don't get in contact.

Is is still a sport? Two guys have died this year, every year is getting worse and worse. Deaths are what you see, but every Sunday someone gest stabbed, harmed or injured. I remember going to a friendly match and Police had to use tear gas to calm down those idiots.

No comment, better follow the Bulldogs!