The Allegri-Oriali affair continues to generate controversy, and a very strong stance has been taken by FIGC president Gabriele Gravina. At the end of the Federal Council meeting, the Italian football leader bluntly addressed the altercation that occurred during the Italian Super Cup semifinal in Riyadh between the AC Milan coach and the Napoli team manager.
"Allegri-Oriali? We're talking about a terrible embarrassment," says Gravina. "Here we need to distinguish between the penalties imposed by the sporting regulations and those issued by the referee and the rules of conduct. This is a cultural issue." The federation president immediately broadens the discussion, pointing to a climate he calls degenerate. "We need to regain a sense of politeness. Abuse is becoming almost normal, the movements of the benches are unwatchable, and there's a belief that the more you shout, the more you can influence decisions on the pitch."
For Gravina, the damage goes beyond the single incident. "There's only one loser in all of this: football," he emphasizes. "This applies to Folorunsho, to presidents, to fans, and to coaches." The FIGC president openly recalls the values the football system claims to uphold. "We talk about the game of football, we always talk about fair play, ethics, principles, respect. We print it on our shirts, on our chests, we hold events, we organize conferences on these issues, and then we go onto the pitch and spit on each other."
The conclusion is clear and unanswerable. "This is absolutely unacceptable," Gravina concludes, implying that incidents like this can no longer be dismissed as normal on-field tensions but represent an open wound to the image of Italian football.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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