Supporters In Italy Unite To Raise Awareness Of Federico Aldrovandi Case

Supporters In Italy Unite To Raise Awareness Of Federico Aldrovandi Case
14:38, 08 Dec 2017

English viewers of Italian football can once again enjoy a whole host of matches from the peninsula live on BT Sport this weekend. The pick of the bunch is undoubtedly the Derby d’Italia when Juventus host Inter this Saturday night, and there are a further five matches to enjoy throughout Sunday and on Monday night.

Yet this is not an advert for the channel, but a chance to explain an image that may be seen across all the stadia in Italy, with one young man’s face displayed in the crowd. A victim of police brutality, 18-year-old Federico Aldrovandi is sadly no longer with us, killed by on-duty officers in Ferrara back in 2005.

Supporters of SPAL, a club based in the town of Ferrara, took a flag bearing his image to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Friday evening, but officials caused outrage among the 1,000 travelling fans by refusing to let them bring it into the stadium. ACAD, the Italian association against abuse by those in uniform, are outraged by this situation and have made moves to peacefully protest against it this weekend.

But let’s backtrack a little here. To put things into context, it is important to explain the events of September 25, 2005, the night when Federico was killed. Reports suggest that he was walking home and had taken illegal drugs earlier in the evening, but a police car blocked his progress as officers Enzo Pontani and Luca Pollastri stood in his way.

Backup was called and two further officers – Paolo Forlani and Monica Segatto – arrived in support. The savage beating that happened next left over 50 lacerations and bruises on the victim’s body, the boy also having suffered cranial and facial fractures. After several false causes of death had been issued, a trial in 2009 concluded that the cause of Federico’s death had been suffocation due to a compressed thorax, an effect caused by truncheon blows to the chest.

The four police officers involved were convicted of the crime in 2012, a trial revealing that the beating continued despite Federico’s cries for help. However the Italian Parliament reduced the officers’ sentences by three years and in 2014 they returned to work.

Whatever the politics of the situation, the family of this young man have fought hard to find justice for their son, and for this reason it is understandable that the SPAL supporters were so outraged not to be allowed to take their banner into the stadium. They simply wanted to honour his memory with a picture of his face when he was alive, and now feel that they have been censored, stopped from doing so by those in a position of authority.

“ACAD, Associazione Contro gli Abusi in Divisa (Italian association against abuse in uniform) invites all communities, starting from football supporters to wear – in addition to their team’s colours –  Federico’s picture on t-shirts, banners, by singing his name in the stadium, on flags, or wherever it is possible,” a statement read. “We ask everybody to display Federico’s picture in every part of your city, with the dignity and respect that the Aldrovandi family taught us through all these years.”

The hashtag #FedericoOvunque (FedericoEverywhere) will also be used on social media, with ACAD and Federico’s family hoping that supporters worldwide will take notice of this initiative.

For information please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: ACAD ASSOCIAZIONE CONTRO GLI ABUSI IN DIVISA

x
Suggested Searches:
The Sportsman
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Premier League
Sportsman HQ
72-76 Cross St
Manchester M2 4JG
We will not ask you to provide any personal information when using The Sportsman website. You may see advertisement banners on the site, and if you choose to visit those websites, you will accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy applicable to those websites. The link below directs you to our Group Privacy Policy, and our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

All original material is Copyright © 2019 by The Sportsman Communications Ltd.
Other material is copyright their respective owners.