Former Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has applauded the gesture of the club’s ultras, the Curva Fiesole, to abandon the game against Max Allegri’s Juventus. Severe flooding caused by torrential rainfall has forced the Italian government to declare a state of emergency in the Tuscany area. With the death toll rising to eight on the day, no action was taken by Lega Serie A to postpone the game and redirect humanitarian efforts elsewhere.
Curva Fiesole released a statement mentioning their intention to boycott the clash against rivals Juventus after their appeal to postpone the game was rejected. The Ultras group instead focused its energy towards assisting people affected by the natural disaster.
Prandelli shared his thoughts on the situation to La Nazione (via ViolaNews).
“I’m not surprised as the wall between the world of football and the real one is getting higher and higher. The much-maligned Ultras have taught everyone a lesson: there are priorities that go beyond everyday life in certain moments.”
“What Prato, Pistoia and Campi are experiencing needs a concrete response, which coincidentally comes from ordinary people and not from football institutions. It seems absurd to me to play a match when there are deaths and devastation five kilometers from the stadium. People have lost loved ones, their homes, everything. Football and everyday life go on parallel tracks now.”
“Everyone should have the courage and determination to decide something that is in some ways unpopular. A match can be postponed, while what happened in Tuscany remains on people’s skin forever. Florence is the city par excellence of solidarity, and the example comes precisely from the Florentines and the lads from Curva Fiesole. We are all going astray if we think that a football celebration like Fiorentina-Juventus should be is more important than anything. I am saddened. My thoughts go to those who have lost everything.”
Firenze mayor Dario Nardella has also praised Fiorentina supporters for lending their time and energy, calling them ‘mud angels’. Efforts are still underway to clean up the wreckage and help the needy during these tough times in the Tuscan region. Viola captain Cristiano Biraghi chipped in on Monday.
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