Excessive affection for the team has resulted in tragedy. A shocking incident occurred in Italy where an Atalanta fan was fatally stabbed by a fan supporting Inter Milan.
U.S. 'Reuters' reported on the 5th (Korean time) that "the Italian Carabinieri police stated that a fan of Atalanta from Italy's Serie A was stabbed to death during a clash with Inter Milan supporters in northern Bergamo."
According to Italian police, the problem began Saturday night at a pub in Bergamo. An Inter fan shouted provocative chants, leading to a dispute with Atalanta fans.
The standoff continued in the streets near the Atalanta stadium, escalating into violence when an Inter fan stabbed an Atalanta fan in the back. The name of the fallen fan was confirmed to be Riccardo Chiaris. Nearby residents reported being awakened around 1 a.m. due to loud shouting.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene after receiving reports, but they could not save the victim. The Atalanta fan died at the scene. The Inter fan, arrested on murder charges, claimed that he acted to protect his younger brother. He reportedly turned himself in to authorities after dropping a knife nearby, and it is known that his brother also engaged in an argument with Atalanta fans to defend him.
A truly shocking tragedy. Atalanta fans commemorated the deceased fan by holding a banner that read, "Chiaris, you are with us anywhere," during the Serie A away game against Monza on the 4th at the Stadio Brianteo. The match ended with a resounding 4-0 victory for Atalanta.
Atalanta has not made an official comment regarding the incident. Gian Piero Gasperini, the Atalanta coach, condemned during a press conference after the Monza match, saying, "What happened to our fan must never happen again."
This is not the first time that football fan violence has been an issue in Italy. In 2023, a fan of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was stabbed before the UEFA Champions League (UCL) match against AC Milan while clashing with rival supporters. He sustained serious injuries but fortunately survived. In the same year, a Newcastle United fan was also hospitalized after being stabbed in Milan.
Last month, clashes also occurred between Serie A fans. Ahead of the 'Roma derby,' supporters of AS Roma and Lazio fought, resulting in injuries to 13 police officers.
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