Riyadh, no minute of silence for Aldo Agroppi: boos were feared as for Gigi Riva
The Football Federation first announces the tribute in all Superoppa and championship matches, then backtracks. It is only done in Serie A, one must adapt to local customs
Gigi Riva's image projected at the Riyadh stadium
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No tribute to Aldo Agroppi before the Italian Super Cup match in Riyadh between Inter and Atalanta .
The Football Federation, which had initially announced a minute of silence before all Serie A and Super Cup matches, backtracked at the last minute .
The decision was made in agreement with Lega Serie A and is valid only for the Super Cup. The reason, in fact, has nothing to do with the former coach and television commentator who passed away yesterday , who will be honored on all Serie A pitches.
The fear of the League and the Football Federation is that this year what happened last year will be repeated, with the shameful boos of the local fans during the minute of silence for Gigi Riva . An episode that caused an outcry and pushed many fans to ask to interrupt all football relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia.
A relationship that remains, however, by virtue of the 16.2 million (8 to the winner, 5 to the finalist, 1.6 to each of the semi-finalists) that make ours the richest Super Cup in Europe . And so, to avoid further embarrassment, it was decided that the minute of silence will be held only in Italy.
Let's remember the precedents. A year ago Gigi Riva passed away, just before the match between Inter and Napoli began. The minute of silence, held before the second half began, was literally drowned out by the whistles of the Saudis . The same thing happened a few days earlier, again in Riyadh, first in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup between Real and Atletico Madrid. The tribute in that case was for another football legend, Franz Beckenbauer .
In Arabia, silence for the dead is considered offensive , it is not associated with mourning and observing it in a stadium would sound like a provocation. In short, in those parts the customs are different and one must adapt . This is why the FIGC and the League have backtracked.
