In the end, thanks to the ruling of the TAR, the Sardinian fans – at least those with a fidelity card signed up before April 2 – were able to go to Empoli to cheer on the rossoblù colours in the relegation battle that ended 0-0.
But the decision of the prefect of Florence, combined with many other measures that in recent months have severely limited the travel of Sardinian fans, pushed Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini to take up pen and paper and write to the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi to complain about the excessive limitations on travel.
The letter, also sent for information to the Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi, to the president of the FIGC Gabriele Gravina and to the president of the Lega Serie A Simonelli, aims to "submit a situation that has been occurring for some time with regards to the club and the Sardinian fans", in light of the ban on away matches in Empoli, which was later revoked.
The latest episode, the rossoblù patron emphasizes, "is not occasional". "Unfortunately, we must note that for over a year the Ministry of the Interior has adopted a line of maximum rigor towards the Cagliari fans, with the adoption of measures that are sometimes incongruous and almost always disproportionate to the real needs of maintaining public order and safety".
Giulini underlines, regarding the events in Empoli, how the ban on away matches for those who signed up for the fidelity card after April 2nd «is in contrast with the rationale of the fan card, which is to extend as much as possible a shared loyalty project».
Limitations that weigh more heavily on the Sardinians, Giulini underlines, due to the conditions of insularity : «In the face of a structural insufficiency of connections with the peninsula that concerns both mobility via ferries and by air, we must add the fact that the decisions, as in the case of Empoli-Cagliari, are notified close to the match so as to frustrate any legitimate aspiration of the Sardinian fans to be able to follow and encourage their favorite team, in addition obviously to causing economic damage related to the expenses for organizing the trip ».
The existing system, in short, needs to be improved and updated, perhaps "with the hearing of companies that could better explain their reasons to institutional representatives", concludes Giulini.
(Online Union)