“This is not a crisis of denial.” And I do not want to send everyone away. The fact that I was outraged by this misfortune in Catania. I have very small nephews. In the future, their children will appear. And I intend to fight to leave them clean football. Not so shifted that we have to live in today.
“But should something like what happened in Catania be expected?”
- If someone does not resent this, even in the face of death, then this is the end. Indeed, without this poor policeman who was only doing his duty, we would have buried the city of Catania for a long time. So it was in Italy more than once, when tragedies of the same scale only slightly affected the public.
“I dare say: the necessary death ...”
- Unfortunately, we are so arranged. We agree to tough measures only when the situation is heating up to the limit.
- You are one of those players who have always been on good terms with ultras.
- Moreover. When I was still very young playing in the lower divisions, for about three years I myself was part of one of the ultras groups.
“Therefore, you should be well aware of what is going on in their heads.”
- It all depends on the circumstances. Among ultras there are normal people involved in public life. And there are already painfully restless guys who constantly walk around the edge.
- And are these troubled guys really interested in football?
- For any of them, being ultras is a special way of life, togetherness. A way to stand out, rise above everyday life. It was the same in my times. The only difference is that then our main mission was pain. Today, these are attacks on the police, the national federation, and rival fans. Now they act as they once practiced among Dutch fans. Having the internet is very easy. A group meeting is scheduled in a particular place, and they fight. Among them, it is considered a special valor and courage to push large groups of tiffozi. All this is very doubtful.
- The players are also to blame for what is happening?
- There was a time, I thought so. Today, I only admit that in some cases, sometimes, we must behave more sportily.
- In what sense?
- Yes, we are rich, famous, we play in series A. And at the same time we consider it possible to show our anger and resentment. But why, then, do poor people from Serie C, who earn football a thousand euros a month, allow themselves to fight on the field?
- And why?
- Because the stadium has to do with all this until a certain point. Now they say on television: this stadium is appropriate, the one is not. That's right, but ...
- But?
- The inhabitants of Catania just decided to go ruin everything. If desired, they could do the same even in the city center. And then go rob the old women. The crowd leaves the stadium and outside it turns into a street manifestation. And by our behavior on the field, we cultivate this particular aggressive behavior, without any respect for each other, and then for the older person or police officer. The authorities have not yet understood this.
- Do not understand - why?
- That this is a new, primitive form of expression of social protest. The same, for example, as bullism (violence of adolescents over peers), as bullying students over the teacher in the classroom. After all, there are fifteen juvenile correctional facilities in Italy, right?
- How to escape from all this?
- Yes, at least introduce in primary school lessons on the study of the foundations of the state and law, eight hours a week. Even in my school years, this subject was studied from time to time. But we were naive, not as adults as today's teens. The first time I saw a cigarette in the hands of my friends was sixteen. Now thirteen already sniffing cocaine. Madness.
- What can football clubs do?
- They tried to work with the fans. And sometimes it was beneficial. For example, before the final of the Champions League, “Milan” - “Juventus” in Manchester. Ultras leaders were called in and officially announced: "Nothing should happen." And there was not a single incident. However, sometimes the media exaggerate the significance of these relations, mainly economic ones. Or when, as it was recently in Messina, tiffozi fire a coach. This should not be.
- Do you support the requirements of the authorities for stadiums?
- Not in everything. But I understand: all these requirements are mandatory as a reaction to what has already happened. I support the actions of the president of the football federation Pankalli, who immediately, half an hour after the tragic events, and not after three days of reflection, stopped all Italian football, including youth competitions in Viareggio. But I do not agree with his refusal to return the money for tickets to fans who came with teams to other cities.
- Are you confident in your assessment?
- Even with an iron fist, but we will save what we believe in. We use the last opportunity. It is necessary to explain to these people: once again - and the end. But I, I must admit, I can’t even imagine a salon calco. With a seat on the couch, in silence ...
- Why are people in England not afraid to come to stadiums with children?
- There is a completely different system of access to the stadium. There, people know for sure that if you make a mistake, you will definitely pay for it. We got a lesson. Indulgence is not required, you need a hard blow. After all, our football is a special phenomenon. There was also a period in England when far from sporting interests took over.
- What would you say Italian ultras?
“That by their actions they kill only calcho.” And not what they would like.
Translation by George BYCHKOV