Changing rooms and civilization: Mastro Lindo doesn’t always play football

Applause at Scandicci for the cleanliness of the locker rooms after the match against Torres are the rule, but with huge exceptions

SASSARI. Often the world of football is not an example of education and respect. This can be seen on the fields even at the highest levels: continuous protests, referees surrounded even when they whistle in the right way, statements by technicians and managers out of reality. In a world where there is still a lot of work to be done to teach the most elementary rules of respect, the news that emerged a few days ago when Scandicci, after losing the Coppa Italia match in Sassari against Torres, has become non-secondary. the very clean changing rooms. A gesture that the rossoblù executives appreciated, publishing the compliments with relative photo on social networks.

Reactions. Stefano Udassi, president of Torres, is also a former footballer and has seen all sorts of things. «Our intent was to enhance the sense of education of the Scandicci boys. We were pleased that after the match, which was lost on penalties, the sense of anger could prevail, but they were exemplary. Really compliments to them ». Udassi played at various levels, from amateurs to professionals. «I don’t want to tell specific episodes but I can say that I happened to go to unsuitable changing rooms, but also to stadiums like Reggio Emilia, Trieste where we found a great organization. I confess that I have experienced indecent situations with dilapidated, not clean, inadequate changing rooms. Let’s put it this way: I prefer to remember the positive examples, I have forgotten the negative ones ». But how do the Torres players behave? «On this aspect – concludes the president – our young people are polite, virtuous. They leave everything in place, they are respectful of their things and those of others ».

Episodes. In Serie A, the changing rooms are always perfect. Companies have warehouse workers who take care of everything. But recently, when the Italian national team played in Palermo losing the play-off with Macedonia, the controversy arose because the Azzurri would have left the room in disastrous conditions. A shame denounced by the servants of the Sicilian company, which led Leonardo Bonucci, captain of Italy, to apologize.

Stories. Mario Fadda, current coach of the Taloro in Excellence, has played hundreds of games. He toured Sardinia and Italy. He experienced first-hand situations bordering on the paradoxical. «I saw people enter through secondary doors between the first and second half – he remembers -. Without mentioning the places, we once faced a team that had to be saved. We were 1-1 at the end of the first half. A door that we had not noticed was opened and two thugs came out with some pastries and three bottles of sparkling wine in their hands. They told us that it was a party there and we were invited … Result of the 3-2 match for them. It was a clear warning. The locker room to say that he was merciful is little. No hot water either. In Gela in the Italian Cup we changed into containers ».

In basketball. Federico Pasquini, general manager of Dinamo Sassari, draws a nice picture of the ball in wedges. «In our sport – he explains – regardless of the category, respect is a rule. In Serie A the changing rooms are always perfect, comfortable. Abroad they bring you fruit and some local specialties. Then it depends on the outcome of the match. If you win the bandages the systems in the baskets, if you lose or the end of the race is daring, maybe you throw everything away in anger. I also witnessed doors being torn open or being punched with such violence that they were smashed. But I must say that they are sporadic cases ». There have also been episodes and one of these tells it like this: «A president of a team, better not mention his name, once he entered the opponent’s dressing room, took the keys and locked them inside. I’m talking about many years ago ».

Positive examples.The Temple of Antonello Ganau had drawn up an internal regulation related to cleaning in the dressing room. “In the big room we put things in order, there were precise rules – says Antonio Borrotzu, another old wolf of the green fields with hundreds of matches between amateurs and professionals -. We were in Serie C, keeping in order was putting education into practice. The company supervised. In the South, the reception was not the best. The most frequent spite was not getting hot water. Personally, I never threw anything on the ground, but my parents taught me this since I was a child ».