Unanimous condemnation after the attack on the bus by Pistoia fans in Rieti, which cost the life of the driver Raffaele Marianella. Investigations into WhatsApp chats and suspicions of a punitive mission.
«We are not talking about fans, but about criminals, murderers. There are no other terms to describe what happened.” With these words, the president of the Italian Basketball Federation Gianni Petrucci he commented to Sky Sports the tragedy of the attack on the bus of Pistoia Basket fans, which cost the life of the driver Raffaele Marianella, 65 years old.
Petrucci called a meeting extraordinary council of the FIP and announced the cancellation of the friendly test between the national team of coach Luca Banchi and the Sebastiani Rietischeduled for Wednesday: «It is clear that we have canceled it. I want to listen to all opinions, because what happened requires deep reflection.”
Abodi: “Murderous hooligans, not sportsmen”
Also the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi expressed words of condemnation: «The violence of hooligans who become murderers should not be confused with sports support».
According to the minister, theattack on the bus of Pistoia Rieti fans it is “the price we pay for a society in overall decline”. Abodi stressed the need for strengthen prevention and technology to identify those responsibleremembering that «those we see on the curves are often the same ones that rage in the suburbs. We don’t want to make sport pay the price of a few criminals.”
Daughter: “I will always keep you in my heart”
A wordless pain for the Marianella family. On social media, the daughter Federica wrote: «I will always keep you in my heart».
Raffaele Marianella, of Roman origin but resident in Florence, had been working for a few months for a Tuscan transport company. He was hit in the face by a brick thrown at the bus along the Rieti-Terni highway, near Contigliano, after the Serie A2 match between Sebastiani Rieti and Estra Pistoia.
Intensive investigations: chats and suspicions of premeditation emerge
The investigations by the Police and Digos of Rieti they focus on about ten suspected ultras of having participated in the assault. According to initial reconstructions, some WhatsApp chats speak of a “punitive mission” planned by at least three people. Their positions are now being examined by the Rieti Prosecutor’s Office, led by the prosecutor Lorenzo Francia.
Investigative sources confirm that there could be news in the next few hourswhile analyzing the messages and cameras present along the highway.
Meloni: “A crazy and criminal act”
Even the prime minister Giorgia Meloni expressed pain and indignation: «Terrible news that leaves you speechless. The attack on the Pistoia Basket bus is an unacceptable and insane act of violence. I trust that those responsible will be quickly brought to justice.”
Sebastiani’s silence and the mourning of Pistoia Basket
There Real Sebastiani Rieti announced a indefinite press silencespeaking of «a profound sign within all of us».
For his part, the Pistoia Basketball 2000 communicated the suspension of all activities for today, “respecting the pain of the Marianella family”.
