Emil Audero has questions for the fan who threw the firecracker

Two days after Cremonese-Inter, Emil Audero spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about what happened in Cremonese-Inter: “I’m quite well, especially in my head. Looking back I realize that the consequences could have been much more serious. At the end of the game, when the adrenaline dropped, my neck stiffened. Now I have pain in my ear and my back is stiff. I will do investigations in the next few days, but let’s say it could have been much worse.”

Andrea Gussoni

Already from the warm-up, the atmosphere did not seem the most peaceful. “There were smoke bombs and firecrackers, but these are situations that happen and I hadn’t given any thought to them. Usually flares don’t explode and everything seemed under control. During the game I was focused, then I saw something near me on the ground. By instinct I moved following the action and was calling the referee’s attention. I took a few steps and then there was the bang.”

Then the’violent explosion. “It was like getting a hammer in the ear, I could hardly hear. I saw a cut on my right leg, my shorts ripped and I felt a very strong burning. If I hadn’t moved, it could have ended really badly.” Despite everything, Audero chose to stay on the field. “Because of the adrenaline, but also because you are there, you understand the situation and you don’t want it to end like that. I didn’t feel the will to quit. Suspending the game because of an incident like that didn’t feel like it. I knew I could continue, even if something changed afterwards.”

On the subject of fans, Audero makes a clear distinction. “Fans are fundamental, their passion is inalienable. The vast majority live soccer in the right way. Then there are small minorities who have nothing to do with soccer. I continue to believe in the good part, although such episodes unfortunately happen too often.”

To the person who threw the firecracker, Audero addresses a direct question, “Why? What is your purpose: to support your team or to mess up? Why choose to hurt others and even yourself? What is the point of it all?”

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