Sandro Sabatini apologizes to Neapolitans and clarifies what happened
Sandro Sabatini spoke at the microphones of Siamo Tutti Allenatori, live on Radio Marte, to clarify the meaning of his words about the celebrations in Naples and Milan, which ended up at the center of controversy. “I tell you moment by moment what happened. At around 1 a.m., the Mediaset correspondent, Vanali, utters these words ‘the square is emptying because they are working in Milan and so many have gone home.’ I reply ‘eh no, in Piazza Plebiscito, last year, they really partied’. Then Bertini overlaps and says ‘yes, but you are too mischievous though’. I say to Clemente Russo ‘is it true that they partied so much in Naples? They took two days off to celebrate’. When Bertini calls me mischievous I was saying that the Inter fans were doing little celebrating, not that the Napoli fans had done too much celebrating. Russo, who is Neapolitan, says ‘yes, we’ve been celebrating for 48 hours’.”
Sabatini then reiterated that his intent was to emphasize the difference between the climate seen in Milan and that experienced in Naples, using the enthusiasm of Piazza del Plebiscito as an example: “Holidays are taken at work, slackers don’t take them. I was assailed on social for a news story that was taken backwards, you have to give the right weight to expressions. The one to be admired for the exuberance of the party is the one in Piazza Plebiscito and not the one in Piazza del Duomo. In certain situations, giving a denial means giving the same news twice, and it is not convenient. I want to hurt myself, I have a lot of confidence in the Neapolitan fans, even those who are offending me. I am not saying they should apologize to me, but I said exactly the opposite of what was published by some accounts.”
The journalist then addressed the issue of apologies, acknowledging that unclear communication can generate misunderstandings. “In this case I’m questioning how I posed myself because if a journalist can’t make himself understood he should rightly apologize. I apologize on a stuff that was published backwards, if you want I apologize otherwise in a very simple way I dismiss you with a joke. Many years ago, when I had to party I was the first to say ‘woe to those who show up for work tomorrow’ (laughs ed.). If I could go back in time? In hindsight I would be more incisive in making my point. I apologize for how it was misrepresented. I say something uncomfortable that I hope will be received naturally, when Bertini calls me mischievous she does so because I also said that the Inter people were right to celebrate it even though there is an ongoing investigation. Marotta said that Inter is very quiet, it just seemed appropriate to talk about it.”
Finally, Sabatini also commented on the reactions he received on social media, returning to reiterate that the target of his joke was not Napoli fans. “I’m sorry, not so much reading the various ‘munnezz’ or even more serious stuff that by the way I invite people to remove from the various social. Looking back on it now, that joke I made should have offended Inter fans, not Napoli fans. It’s as if I had said to them ‘but how? Instead of celebrating are you going home?’ Do I pay the Neapolitans for coffee? Whatever (laughs ed.). I would like to offer coffee to everyone, I promise we will do a whole episode in contact with radio listeners.”
