As a result of the act of the bloodthirsty “supporters”, the entire club has been suspended for the time being. The brazen act has been condemned right up to the state leadership.
The case has shocked Italians. EPA / AOP
There has been progress in the investigation into the death of the bus driver who was transporting basketball fans in Italy. At the same time, very sad additional information about the accident was revealed.
The driver of the bus carrying supporters of the basketball team Pistoia was stoned to death on Sunday in the town of Rieti.
The supporters of the team playing in the second highest division of Italian basketball were leaving for home after a victorious match, when the supporters of the losing Sebastiani Rieti team became angry with the away fans and threw various objects at the bus on the highway.
One of the objects thrown was a stone or brick. It flew through the front window of the bus, hitting one of the bus drivers who was on a rest shift. A 65-year-old man died from his head injuries. According to the Italian media, he would have just retired.
The case has shocked Italy deeply. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni promised to hold the guilty accountable for their actions.
According to Ansa, the authorities have arrested three people suspected of the stoning operation. In addition, the fourth suspect is wanted and numerous eyewitnesses have been interviewed.
The Italian Basketball Federation has banned Sebastiani Rieti’s team from league games pending an investigation. The team announced that they will sue the people who participated in the stoning. The club intends to blame them for both financial losses and reputational damage.
The violent actions of ultrafans have been condemned across the board in Italy.
– They are not fans. They are criminals, the head of the Italian Basketball Federation Gianni Petrucci tightly.
According to the authorities’ current understanding, the people involved in the stoning operation had planned the attack in advance. They had positioned themselves in ambush for the arrival of the bus before the fatal attack.
Supporter violence is a common problem in some places, especially in Italy. The culture of supporters who idealize violence has sometimes gained column space in Finland as well.