Field invasions, assaults, insults and manhunts. Ultras unleashed in Foggia during the match against Catanzaro, postponing matchday 36 of group C of evenings C, which ended 6-2 for the guests but after two interruptions due to invasions of the field. The fury of some home fans raged against the visiting striker Pietro Iemmelloex on duty.
After scoring two goals in the first, raising protests from part of the home crowd, Iemmello was about to kick a penalty of the possible 6-1 but a man entered the field trying to attack him before being stopped by the stewards, as seen in a video of Eleven Tv. The player gave up taking the penalty and was substituted, but even on the bench he risked being attacked.
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After the second goal of Foggia, for the final 6-2, another interruption due to invasion, with the referee forced to suspend the game again to calm the spirits and restore order on and off the field. After the episode, the AIC expressed “total solidarity” to Catanzaro and the members of the Calabrian team after the “shameful attack” suffered by Iemmello, “the object of a real manhunt” during the Foggia-Catanzaro match.
In a note, in harshly condemning the very serious episode, the Assocalciatori “hopes that the competent authorities will shed light on the circumstances that led to this unspeakable and unheard-of event”. A “very serious” act that “adds to the long list of cases of intimidation and violence against members highlighted in the report ‘Footballers under fire’ drawn up annually by the Footballers’ Association”.
A few hours after the incident, the president of Foggia football spoke publicly, Nicola Canonico. “I apologize to the Foggia fans for the bad match. But I also apologize to all the Italian fans for what happened on the pitch. I am indignant, I distance myself”. The patron was clear in dissociating the company from what happened on the pitch in the match against Catanzaro.
At the moment there is no investigation but it is not excluded that a file will be opened in the next few hours against the ultras of the North Curve: hypothesis of “climbing over” crime and invasion of the field.