Maurizio Sarri on Juventus Fans: “They Don’t Realize”
Maurizio Sarri also weighed in on one of the most talked-about moments of the Juventus-Atalanta match—which, incidentally, took place not on the field but in the stands: the decision by a group of Juventus fans to turn their backs during the minute of silence in memory of Sandro Mazzola. “It gave me a bad feeling,” admitted the Atalanta coach. “Perhaps it stems from a generation that doesn’t realize what Mazzola accomplished, regardless of the jersey he wore. Even though he always played for other teams, paying tribute to someone like him is the least we can do.”
The scene unfolded before kickoff at Allianz Stadium, when some Juventus ultras turned their backs on the field while chanting in honor of Gaetano Scirea, Andrea Fortunato, and Gianni Agnelli—three figures inextricably linked to Juventus’ history. Applause erupted from other sections of the stadium in an attempt to drown out the chants, which, however, remained clearly audible during the minute of silence dedicated to the Inter and Italian national team legend, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 83.
The incident sparked immediate reactions on social media. Among the harshest voices was that of Lucrezia Capuano, a well-known Inter fan and influencer with a hugely popular Facebook page, who called for explicit action: “Seeing even women doing this makes me deeply ashamed that they belong to the same gender as me. I repeat: these people must be identified and must never set foot in a stadium again. They’re chanting for Scirea, a true gentleman whom they aren’t even worthy of mentioning. 1,000 Sandrinos and 1,000 Scireas for life. Respect comes first.”
Gianni Rivera also paid tribute to Mazzola’s greatness; in an interview with ‘Il Fatto Quotidiano,’ he spoke emotionally about his historic rival and national teammate: “Sandro Mazzola and I had an excellent relationship. It’s true, we played for different teams, but we both respected each other, and together we came a long way, in the interest of all the other players.” The two had also shared a pivotal journey for the profession, as Rivera himself recalled: “We experienced a wonderful era of Italian soccer together, convinced that we had also contributed to the founding of the players’ association—an important achievement for the entire profession. Sandro was a lovely person. We got along well.”
Speaking also on ‘Radio Rai 1,’ Rivera added another piece to the portrait of Mazzola: “He was, first and foremost, a major rival because he played for the other Milan team. But we also had a friendly relationship since we played together on the national team. And there was a period when they decided to have us play alternately; we never understood why.” These words reflect the stature of a champion capable of rising above club rivalries—and make the actions of those in the stands at Allianz Stadium who chose not to pay tribute to him seem all the more out of place.
