On May 2, head coach of ACF Fiorentina, Delio Rossi,
was fired within hours of attacking one of his players during a high-intensity
Serie A match against Novara. It was an important match for the Viola, which
was desperately looking for a win that would get keep the team from the
relegation zone.
Charged emotions
hit a peak in the first half when 20-year-old Serbian midfielder Adem Ljajic
contested Rossi’s substitution that pulled him out of the game. Ljajic heckled
Rossi, applauding the coach ironically as he entered the dugout after the
substitution. In an unexpected outburst of rage, Rossi slapped Ljajic several
times, falling into the dugout. The two were separated immediately, but the
violent outburst shocked the soccer world and made international headlines.
Club president
Andrea Della Valle announced Rossi’s firing in a post-game wrap-up: ‘It’s the
most painful decision of my career … Rossi was provoked, but nothing
justifies a reaction like that. It’s a decision I had to make for his
well-being. The images speak clearly.’
On May 4, Rossi,
who has also been penalized with a three-month suspension from the Serie A by
the Italian league, held a press conference in which he apologized publically
and saluted the city and team: ‘I made a mistake and I’m paying for it,’ he
stated, adding that the ‘gesture was deplorable, but understandably human.’ In
his defense, he said, he was provoked by a ‘lack of respect’ for his role, his
team and his family.
In a statement on
its website, the ACF Fiorentina announced, ‘The Club would like to thank the
manager and his staff for the work done in these months of collaboration.
Vincenzo Guerini will take charge of the team for the two remaining games of
the season. ACF Fiorentina also informs that it ha[s] started disciplinary
action against the player Adem Ljajic.’
Many Viola fans
have sided with Rossi. According to the press, some diehard Viola fans
applauded the coach after the slap and insulted Ljajic with racist chants
during the home game at the Franchi stadium. As a result, the ACF Fiorentina
was fined 20,000 USD by the Italian soccer league.
V
enice officials seem ready to approve a plan to
restore the 400-year-old Rialto bridge. If deemed feasible, the project would
be the first restorative effort in 30 years of the historic bridge on the Grand
Canal.
