The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Naples has released the school gym in Melito, which was occupied by a sports club led by a former Olympian, from seizure. The long dispute with the Municipality and investigations by the municipal police led to the seizure, which was overturned by the investigating judge, Fabrizio Forte. The decision to release the gym from seizure comes after a dispute over the illegal occupation of the premises by the sports club.
The club, known as Yellow Flames, had been accused of making the gym impracticable for priority educational purposes and using it predominantly for their own sports activities. The alleged suspect, Pasquale Liuzzi, the coach of the national youth wrestling team and coach of Wrestling Liuzzi, a local sports association, was at the center of the dispute. The judge did not identify criminal offenses but indicated that there are administrative and civil matters to be resolved with the local authority.
The gym, which has been used by Liuzzi since 2009, was granted to the sports club through agreements with the school management and administrations. The judge noted that the resolution for the club’s use of the gym had been granted over time, and the occupation of the premises was not introduced from the outside.
The judge ordered the return of the seized materials to the rightful owner and highlighted that the dispute between the sports club and the Municipality needs to be resolved without closing the gym, as it is an important structure for young people in the neighborhood. The former Olympian, Liuzzi, expressed readiness to resolve the dispute with the Municipality, and the federation stands alongside the club, stating that local excellence should not be suppressed.
The release of the gym from seizure marks a step towards resolving the long-standing dispute and ensuring that the facilities continue to benefit the community.