During a Third Category football match, a player addressed racist insults to an opponent. His teammates made an unprecedented decision that caused discussion: they left the field in protest.

After two months of investigations entrusted to the federal prosecutor, the sports judge decided: hard punch against the perpetrator of the offenses (ten days of disqualification), but no flexibility, with the application to the letter of the regulation: a team that leaves the field the 3-0 defeat is assigned.

It was November 28th: on a pitch on the outskirts of Bologna in the 38th minute of the second half the match between Real Basca and Zaragoza was 1-1 when there was a confusion between players. It was at that point that one of the Real Basque players addressed an opponent with racist epithets.

The comrades have thus decided to leave the field. In the days immediately following the sports judge decided not to decide: in fact he imposed a lot of 100 euros to Basca for the invasion of the field by one of his fans and one of 20 euros to Zaragoza for lack of public force or replacement service, sending the documents to the federal prosecutor for further information.

Investigations revealed that the fight broke out over an alleged waste of time over a side foul and that the racist insult did indeed take place, but the referee was too far away to hear and could only suspend the match after that. Zaragoza left the field.

A few days later the Emilia-Romagna Region rewarded the players and managers of Zaragoza with a plaque. "Winning is not always the most important thing - said President Stefano Bonaccini, rewarding them - especially when values such as dignity and respect for people are at stake. Racism is fought with concrete gestures like this, which can be worth more than a thousand words and represent an important example especially for the youngest ".

Now the decision of the sports judge has arrived, at least questionable.

(Unioneonline / L)