The spark was struck live on Rai, during Sports Sunday, and in a few hours it became a national case. Mauro Bergonzi, former referee and now commentator, defined Giovanni Di Lorenzo's behavior in the action that led to the penalty for the "unsportsmanlike" Napoli against Inter, claiming that the Azzurri captain would have “he extended his left leg to seek contact and deceive the referee.”
Words that did not go unnoticed in Castel Volturno. SSC Napoli released a very harsh official statement against the former referee, defending his captain: “You can freely discuss game episodes – writes the club – But it is unacceptable to question the sportsmanship, integrity, and professionalism of an exemplary footballer like Giovanni Di Lorenzo. We firmly condemn Bergonzi's statements."
The company's position was joined by that of Mario Giuffredi, the player's agent, who responded with equally harsh words live on Radio Kiss Naples: As long as Bergonzi judges the incident as technical, that's fine. But calling Di Lorenzo unsportsmanlike is serious, especially on public television. Before speaking out, he should study the boy's history: he hadn't been sent off in twelve years, and the referees themselves have called him the fairest captain in Serie A. RAI cannot allow such comments.
Giuffredi then raised the possibility of legal action: We will evaluate action against Bergonzi and against RAI. Di Lorenzo represents sporting loyalty; he's a symbol of Napoli and the national team. If Bergonzi has any honesty, he should apologize to him live on air.
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