“Football is an emotion that goes beyond business, it is a question of feelings, similar to religion with its painful and joyful mysteries.” This is the long sentence that was exposed by the Davide Pieri curve of Monza to kick off the home challenge against the NapoliThe first part of the statement is a quote from the late president Silvio Berlusconi, while the second part has also been interpreted in relation to rumours of alleged negotiations for the change of ownership of the club.
During the kick-off, the Napoli curve remained silent, with a central part of the stadium deserted by the fans Neapolitans, who instead crowded together near the entrance steps. Instead of fans, an eloquent banner took their place: “Absent as your attributes”, with the latter term made explicit only through an image.
Later, some Napoli fans threw smoke bombs onto the pitch and, after 15 minutes, entered their designated section of the stadium, which had remained empty during the initial phase of the match. A protest banner against the players appeared in that section.
The first chants of the Neapolitan ultras were no less harsh, both towards the players and towards the president Aurelio De Laurentiis, to whom a “we deserve more”. “Only ultras always win” instead, it was the banner unfurled in the away sector.
Article published on 7 April 2024 - 16:19