In which country?

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Let’s start with a question: in which country would direct accusations — complete with first and last names — made by a journalist and writer specialized in mafia matters like Roberto Saviano be virtually ignored by newspapers and television? In which country would the management of any company, recognized by courts as being subordinate to unsavory individuals, remain in place as if nothing had happened?

In which country would the judiciary fail to immediately launch an investigation in the face of such harsh and detailed words as those spoken by Saviano when he essentially pointed to the president of Inter, Beppe Marotta, as the cause of the total loss of credibility of Italian football?

In which country would the words of a mafia turncoat, directly accusing the same Marotta of collaboration and criminal association, not be considered worthy of attention by the justice system? Because it must be one or the other: either a turncoat is always credible and entitled to witness protection (as is the case with Marotta’s accuser), or he never is.

Well, my friends, I don’t believe there’s any need to provide the answer to these rhetorical questions, because we are talking about the same country in which, for at least twenty years, one club has never been made to pay for its wrongdoing, always finding some scapegoat to sacrifice in its place (mostly always the same one).

The most “recent” proof concerns the Bastoni–Kalulu case, with the inclusion of the other great “roller” par excellence, Barella. During last Saturday’s Inter–Juventus match, the Juventus defender was shown two yellow cards as a result of two blatant simulations by opponents, with the second one going around the world for the disgraceful celebration by Bastoni himself.

The whole world saw the images and condemned them — except for the “hawks” in the style of La Russa — in almost unanimous fashion. Yet instead of demanding disciplinary action through video evidence against the two divers, the sports judge moved to suspend the “poor” Kalulu. For “foul play,” a masterpiece.

The apotheosis of the grotesque times we are living in came with the additional sanctions imposed on two Juventus executives, CEO Damien Comolli and Director of Football Strategy Giorgio Chiellini, guilty of having directed insulting expressions at the referee in the San Siro tunnel at the end of the first half.

Nothing to object to in terms of regulations, except that this is, ça va sans dire, the longest suspension (over one month) ever imposed in the history of Italian football for similar incidents. A warning more than a punishment. In short, Inter “misbehaves” and Juventus pays: this seems to remain the main theme of Italian football since 2006.

But let’s return to Saviano, because some of his words deserve to be reported with great precision:

When you hear seasoned politicians say that football is just football, or that a booking is just a booking, I think: are you serious or are you mocking us? When it comes to football and fandom, it must be remembered that Inter is a victim. Its players and its fans are, but not its management, which was entirely compromised by the subservience referenced in the conviction issued last December as part of the so-called ultras investigation. How that management was allowed to remain in place has long been a mystery to me. To which management that had contact with extremely dangerous individuals, after admitting it did not report them and after reaching a settlement with sports justice, is it permitted to remain at the top?

It is hard to understand how one can tell a poor individual — for example a small entrepreneur lacking any state protection — to report criminal organizations, if at the same time red carpets are rolled out for those who could have acted and did nothing. Nothing. For those who, despite being able to obtain protection and support, chose to remain silent. This clumsy sweeping of dirt under the rug has completely destroyed the image of Italian football.

Through football as well, we have ended up normalizing mafia presence in our country. It was not just a mafia-tainted championship, but an entire league distorted at its ethical foundations. As long as Inter’s management remains in place, Italian football will never regain the essential dignity required to build a virtuous example.

👉 FULL INTERVENTION HERE 👈

Inter and Marotta have one path ahead of them: to report Saviano’s words as defamatory — yet for some reason they have not done so, probably fearing the evidence that might be presented in court.

The measure is full, the cork has popped: for everyone’s sake, it is time to put an end to this disgrace. Or not?

I'm part of ITALYGAME Team

together with:
@girolamomarotta, @sardrt, @mikitaly, @mad-runner, @famigliacurione

👉 VOTA PER NOI COME WITNESS👈