Game four with Napoli: the disqualification of the home parquet due to the behavior of a part of the fans avoided
UDINE. High tension eve for the game-off final match four between Apu Old Wild West and GeVi Napoli. To disturb the climate in the Juventus home yesterday morning came the statement with which the Fip imposed a day of disqualification at the Carnera stadium “for collective and frequent offenses against the referees and for demonstrations inspired by hatred and racial discrimination against a well identified opponent card ”during the competition, played on Friday in Udine, with only 500 fans in the stands, as per anti Covid provisions.
The player in question is the black wing of Naples, Eric Lombardi: the APU is not there, also because it is firmly convinced that on Friday evening there were no episodes of racism. In any case, tonight’s game (at 18.30) will be played regularly at the Carnera sports hall, given that the Udine club has filed an appeal and commuted the disqualification of the field with a fine.
All right then? Not at all. In the Apu house no one makes official statements, but there is great irritation over the Fip provision. The Udinese company believes it has been wronged, also because the Friulian capital is a quiet square, with a civil public that has never been talked about for racist episodes against black players. The fear is that the series that is worth the promotion to Serie A will be tarnished in some way.
There are those who suspect that behind this provision there is an attempt to destabilize the environment and point out that the president of GeVi Napoli, Federico Grassi, also holds the position of vice president of the National Basketball League.
And relations between the APU and the LNP are not exactly relaxed, after the dispute last autumn for the broadcasting of the matches on TV. The hope is that the page will be turned quickly and that today there is room only for basketball on the court. Also because, after having reopened the games with the 1-2 point, the APU has acquired self-esteem and enthusiasm, undermining the certainties of the Neapolitan environment, perhaps too self-confident after the row of five seasonal victories against the team of Boniciolli.
Tonight’s match, useless to go around it, weighs a lot: Napoli has the second match ball, but it could find itself with the “little arm” after Friday’s misstep. Udine believes in the “remuntada” and wants to bring the final to the “beautiful” and then play the promotion in the last 40 minutes, Wednesday, back in Naples.
Anything can happen. With the help of the public the Apu Old Wild West – which at home, from February onwards, has had a very high performance – can impact and continue to dream. As long as you don’t get distracted by off-court events, which you didn’t really feel needed in these exciting play-offs with the promotion to the top flight of Italian basketball at stake.