Juventus have issued an official statement condemning the behavior of some fans who interrupted a minute’s silence in memory of Sandro Mazzola ahead of Sunday’s Serie A match against Atalanta.
A tribute to the late Inter and Italy legend was interrupted at the Allianz Arena moments before kick-off, with the club making its stance clear after the game.
What happens during mourning
A minute’s silence was observed before the start of Serie A at the weekend following news on Saturday that Mazzola, widely regarded as one of Italy’s greatest ever footballers, had died aged 83.
At the Allianz Arena, some supporters in the South Stand turned their backs to the pitch during the tributes and sang songs in memory of their club legends. The gesture was quickly drowned out by the roar of applause from the rest of the stadium as the tribute continued. This echoes fan behavior that has come under scrutiny before, as seen when a Juventus fan was injured in a pre-derby clash last season.
The interruption occurred before Juventus beat Atalanta 2-0 on the pitch.
Juventus official response
Juventus later issued a statement of their own, addressing the incident directly, insisting that no rivalry could justify a lack of respect during the minute’s silence. The Club sees honoring the dead and coming together in moments of remembrance as a shared responsibility that transcends club loyalties and skin colour. italian football.
Given Mazzola’s place in Italian football history, Mazzola’s death was felt far beyond Inter Milan fans and the rivalry has spawned some crossover stories over the years, including Fabio Cannavaro’s move from Inter Milan to Juventus. The incident was also reported Yahoo SportsThe club’s statement is the clearest public response to the matter to date.