Lazio footballer Ciro Immobile was recently approached by a so-called fan while he was in a car with his wife Jessica and their son Mattia.
This represents the latest incident in a series of events involving the footballer and his team in a climate of high tension.
The attack took place in the residential neighborhood of Fleming, located north of Rome. A man recognized Immobile, got out of his car, and began vehemently insulting the Lazio striker, as well as inflicting the same insult on his wife.
This happened despite the presence of little Mattia, who has nothing to do with sports issues or the more unpleasant and violent aspects of football fandom.
This ugly episode underlines the difficult moment and the tense climate surrounding Lazio, further complicated by the resignation of the previous coach Maurizio Sarri.
These came after the team's home defeat against Udinese, a blow so severe that it jeopardized any hopes of reaching fifth place in the league, a position that could still guarantee a place in next season's Champions League.
The team, and especially its captain, are under fire from angry supporters. Some are escalating their criticism, going beyond mere insults on social media or complaints on the radio, to physical attacks. Immobile receives no mercy despite being Lazio's all-time leading scorer with 206 goals.
His meager six goals in 6 Serie A matches are seen as a further weakness. It's often forgotten that he's scored four goals in eight Champions League matches, including a crucial penalty in the first leg of the round of 24 that sealed Lazio's victory over Bayern Munich.
Recently, through a post on Instagram, Immobile distanced himself from such insinuations, denying being at the center of the conspiracies and claiming the maximum commitment he has always shown for the team.
Immobile has become the scapegoat for recent tensions, especially from those critics who accuse the player of not scoring as well as before. He is also accused of having lost his talent as a goalscorer and of fomenting internal conflicts within the team.
In short, Immobile and other "traitors" no longer have any excuse, especially in light of the statements made by Lazio president Claudio Lotito, who blamed them for an up-and-down season that culminated in a disastrous second-place finish in the league.
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