Could the Cagliari-Napoli chaos have been avoided?

What happened on February 21, 2022 seems to have taught us nothing. Two and a half years ago, the Napoli ultras who arrived in Cagliari for the match between the rossoblù and the azzurri were the protagonists of a procession, right in the city center: dressed in black and hooded, they insulted the people of Cagliari and Cagliari. An explosive situation, with the inevitable consequence in the post-match: clashes between fans and the police in the middle. And on Sunday, as if nothing had happened and as if the violent rivalry between ultra groups was not known, the riots during Cagliari-Napoli at the Unipol Domus were repeated. And so the question everyone is asking is simply one: why not ban the trip to organized Napoli groups, knowing all the past and the possible risks in allowing 300-400 people to reach Cagliari with provocative and violent intentions?

A question that many parents who were in the Curva Sud on Sunday evening, together with their children, asked themselves. A few meters from the away sector. The throwing of firecrackers and objects risked causing injuries. And the intervention of the police was necessary, with the Mobile Unit deployed in the Curva. A scene that had not happened for a very long time, assures those who participated in the management of public order in the stadiums (Unipol and Sant'Elia) of Cagliari. A sign of very high tension, danger and fear. All for a football match. And here we are no longer talking about teasing, even very "colorful", chants against the opposing team. The fans, if they can be called that, of Napoli arrived by ship displaying the banner "A caccia di pecora" at the entrance to the port of Cagliari. Very strong provocation, knowing all the precedents and especially the last one, that of 2022. And then the transfer by bus from the airport to the stadium: with the hooded blue ultras, not in stadium gear but in guerrilla gear. And so what happened during the match, with the smoke bombs thrown from the away sector towards the Curva Sud, the response of the Cagliari fans, the moments of fear, the throwing of other objects and firecrackers. And then, later, from the North, some paper bombs and smoke bombs thrown onto the pitch: a response from the Sconvolts who in the first twenty minutes had deserted their historic space in protest against the treatment they receive - according to their version - from the police with Daspo and continuous complaints.

In the end, there was no physical confrontation, thanks to the great work of the Police, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, Local Police: the staff had to manage many, too many moments of very high tension. With the risk of more injuries (a few bruises and trauma to a steward and a fan are the only known consequences, other possible injuries especially among the ultras have not been officially communicated). Public order, as requested from above, was guaranteed, with difficulty. And with the risk of much more serious consequences.

On social media, the comments are varied. And alongside the indignation and anger (some people left the stadium in the first half, immediately after the smoke bombs were thrown), there are those who still can't understand why 300-400 violent people were allowed to reach Cagliari to do what they did. With the inevitable - albeit unjustifiable and condemnable - reaction of the Cagliari ultras. Was it really impossible to ban the trip? Was it unthinkable to guarantee that the Cagliari-Napoli match was only a sporting event and not an occasion for violence, clashes and tension, putting everyone at risk? Even the unions of the forces of law and order, especially the Police, are wondering why a group of ultras were allowed to face a "risky" trip, knowing that there would be consequences. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries or, worse still, victims. But do we have to wait for something tragic to happen to make preventive decisions?