Jacopo Madau, provincial secretary of the Italian Left as well as councilor for culture of the metropolitan area town, sparked political controversy after the arrival of the Israeli defender
“You are not welcome in Florence.” Thus Jacopo Madau, provincial secretary of the Italian Left in Florence and councilor for culture in Sesto Fiorentino, headlines a post on his Facebook profile against the arrival at Fiorentina of the Israeli footballer Manor Solomon, who is in the city today for the signing of the contract and the medical examinations. “The arrival of the Israeli footballer Solomon to Fiorentina has just been made official – says Madau -. Last or not least, those who have never hidden their support for Netanyahu’s genocidal policies are not welcome in Florence and can represent our city and Fiorentina”. And then he also took it further: “As a fan and season ticket holder I will not fail to express this at the stadium”.
FdI’s response
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These declarations sparked political controversy in Florence, with a response from the centre-right. FdI councilor Alessandro Draghi and FdI group leader in Sesto Fiorentino Stefano Mengato declare: “Being an Israeli citizen is not a fault. Councilor Jacopo Madau, who expressed territorial criticism, on the player purchased from Fiorentina Manor Salomon, think about the problems of Sesto Fiorentino. We can think differently about the airport but let’s not argue about Fiorentina where, at the moment, all we need is unity to save himself. What fault could a 26-year-old boy have for the genocide in Gaza? War divides, but sport unites. And the culture councilor of Sesto Fiorentino should also know this.”