Curva Express / 11
Genoa v Inter...Atalanta v Cagliari...Parma v Lazio...Fiorentina's crisis...Carrarese new Curva Nord...SPAL bans...Maceratese's diversion...Taranto and Cavese updates
Genoa v Inter was clearly the highlight of the weekend as both sets of fans clashed ahead of the match at Marassi. We tried to put together all the videos that circulated online. Rumour has it that Napoli ultras were present with their “old” friends as they joined forces in the assault.
On their side, Inter ultras then released a statement about their absence in Riyadh for the Supercup. All other ultra groups of teams involved haven’t flown to Saudi Arabia although 500 Bologna and 45 Napoli fans have still independently travelled to the Arabian Peninsula.
Sconvolts Cagliari again tried to approach the Bergamo away trip as one from the past – no police escort and walking to the Atleti Azzurri (now renamed New Balance Arena). However, their attempt was frustrated when they were intercepted by Digos in Via Ezio Vanoni, and were then escorted to the ground. Once inside, Atalanta ultras asked Saint Lucy (13 December) the return of their (banned) friends with a banner. Great pics by our friend Guly.
Nearly 4,000 Lazio fans made the trip to Parma and set up another kind of tifo – this time, it was a wall of white and sky-blue scarves dominating the visiting supporters section at Stadio Tardini. “Forza Mitica Lazio” was the banner raised on top as they welcomed the teams onto the pitch – inspired to the famous “Forza Lazio” from October 1932, the first “tifo” in an Italian stadium. Their Parma counterparts instead dedicated a huge banner to the late Bitto who suddenly passed away in 2021 – in the morning Boys gathered at the cemetery in Collecchio to commemorate their friend, then another group of ultras marched through the streets to celebrate the club’s 112th birthday (16 December 1913).
Fiorentina and Verona met in a six-pointer putting at risk their historical twinning, but a banner from the Fiesole clearly showed up that there was no love lost between both sets of fans as the Viola ultras stated “Butei (“boys” in Veronese dialect), whoever finishes bottom, will pay for the drinks!” In any case, there was no festive mood as insults replaced encouragement for their players after Hellas won in stoppage time.
On Thursday, 850 Fiorentina ultras then made the trip to Lausanne and didn’t spare the players from more abuse as they first displayed a banner to invite them to respect the badge, then threw flares and smoke bombs on the pitch at the end of the game as they rejected their players’ saluting the crowd after the final whistle (by the way, their Verona friends were present in the away section).
Then Curva Fiesole released a statement, as they announced they won’t enter the stadium until the 20th minute in sign of protest against Udinese on Sunday. They also asked other fans to do so. Apart from being rock bottom in the league, fans are really fed up, especially after news spread about Sassuolo asking for a refund as Viola players smashed part of the dressing room in Reggio Emilia earlier this month, as they fought each other after that loss.
This is not the Maracana but Pescara’s Adriatico as Cole Kooper raps…
Carrarese opened their new Curva Nord last weekend as they hosted Entella. The new stand is now bigger and closer to the pitch with a capacity of 2,200 which takes the total capacity of the Stadio dei Marmi at 5,500 and it’s part of a wider renovation project worth 3 million euros. The blue and yellow ultras celebrated with a much-needed win.
Some more pictures from the weekend in Serie A and B (incl Spezia v Modena, Genoa v Inter tifo, Juve at Bologna).
As they were banned from travelling to Faenza, SPAL ultras travelled to Ravenna in order to protest against Ravenna’s Police HQ decision. Twenty of them were identified and Curva Ovest released a statement, explaining the situation: “they have already been charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code, “Insulting a political body of the State,” and many of them have also been issued notices to leave Ravenna and Faenza. Meanwhile, in Florence, other of our guys have been denied requests to suspend their signatures during working hours, as documented by the relevant documentation, despite the law being very clear about protecting the employment of those subject to the obligation to sign (because of the ban)” (just sharing here their “Irish” tifo back in October in case you missed it.
Last Sunday, a group of Macerata ultras who were traveling to Giulianova, in the Teramo province, to attend Giulianova v Maceratese, decided for a stopover in Civitanova Marche in an attempt to challenge their local rivals. Upon reaching the roundabout in Civitanova Marche that provides access to the highway toll booth, instead of taking the A14, members of the Curva Just diverted toward the city centre. Once near the second roundabout that provides access to a shopping centre, they stopped the vehicles—minivans and private cars—forcing the fans out of their vehicles. From there, approximately 30 ultras with masked faces, armed with sticks, flagpoles, and belts, headed into the adjacent bar in search of Civitanova. The operation organized by the Macerata Police HQ allowed for immediate intervention by law enforcement. Ahead of potential trouble, a firecracker was detonated and objects, including glass bottles, were thrown at the officers. During the escape, a Macerata fan damaged a police car after resisting an officer to avoid being identified. At this point, the ultra fell to the ground and hit the police car. The impact shattered the front window, and the car door sustained significant damage. The ultra managed to escape by re-boarding the bus, while one officer was injured and required urgent medical intervention. Macerata supporters, once aboard their minivans, fled the scene. Following the incident, the National Observatory on Sporting Events referred the matter to the Analysis Committee for the Safety of Sporting Events. The latter body has decided to hold the next home match behind closed doors and to ban Macerata fans from travelling to the next four matches. The CASMS decision was followed by the order issued by the Prefect of Macerata to close all stands on Sunday 21 December, for the home match against Chieti.
Taranto new Iacovone stadium update – stadium will be ready by next summer as the city hosts the Mediterranean Games. The team meanwhile plays in the fifth tier of the Italian football pyramid, at Stadio Italia in Massafra.
Cavese ultras were in great shape for their home match against Siracusa.
Saturday night, Cantù hosts Milano. This is one of the great classics of Italian basketball. More than 5,000 supporters will be in attendance at Paladesio and even the visitors will be allowed into the arena - residents of the city of Milan will only be able to purchase tickets in the away end.