Bologna, April 13, 2016 – “We were pleased to read of the investigation launched by the FIGC into the incident that occurred on March 9th involving Settimo youth team players, who were insulted on the pitch with homophobic epithets because they were wearing fuchsia jerseys,” stated Gabriele Piazzoni, national secretary of Arcigay. He continued: “The managers of the clubs involved had stubbornly attempted to downplay the incident. Fortunately, the sports prosecutor's office, on the other hand, decided to look into the matter and investigate the matter further. This is a small but extremely important sign, because for the first time, homophobic behavior detected in a youth sports context has received a significant institutional response. This is a crucial message, both for those who suffered the insults and for those who uttered them. Underestimating these incidents is the fertilizer that keeps them alive. To stop these tendencies, we must address them without hesitation. This is why we are appealing to the FIGC for intervention,” concluded Piazzoni.
