Serie D representative wins 3-0, Ladegbuwa furious and with 2 expelled, match suspended. Those present (and the sports judge) tell a different story than the club
From accusations of racism to an assaulted referee. The match of the Viareggio Cup between the Representative Series D and the Nigerian team of Ladegbuwa has become a case, the match suspended in the 39th minute of the second half and declared concluded by the referee on the result of 3-0 for the Representative D (brace from Opoola del Brindisi, also Nigerian, trio by Giacchino from Sanremese). At that moment, as can be seen from the videos on YouTube, the Nigerians – under strong pressure from the bench, rather than from the players on the pitch – decided to return to the locker room early, as a form of protest for the two expulsions (to which add that of the Portuguese coach Dias Cardoso and a manager) decided by the referee Marino di Pisa. The first red card, to the player Lawal, came for a second yellow card – which appeared clear – at 2-0. The red light aimed at Garuba instead arrived at 3-0, due to the consequences of a slap in the run in which an opponent was hit in the face. In the commentary of the streaming of the Amateur League, the provision is defined as “at the limit” and honestly the images do not clarify. A doubtful refereeing episode, as you see in many, to be contextualized with the acquired result (3-0) and with only six minutes to play.
THE ACCUSATIONS
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In the late evening, however, the Nigerian club turned the spotlight on the match by publishing a post on social media which speaks of a referee management aimed at favoring the Serie D Representative, of “malicious tackles not punished by the referee” and of offenses racists who would have been heard on the pitch and from the stands of the Santa Croce sull’Arno stadium. The issue becomes delicate: “It is very wrong – we read – for our young players to leave this competition with the conviction that any decision against them was only because they were black. Our boys between 16 and 18 will go home knowing that Europe is still racist, that all this happened because of the color of their skin. In 2023, in a stadium where a banner with the words ‘No to racism’ stands out, we would not have expected all of this. We ask the organizers of an official apology and the possibility of replaying the match on a neutral pitch and with a correct referee. Our footballers cannot approach adult life thinking that cheating is right.” Heavy words, to which however – scrolling through the comments on social media – some present in the stadium reply by emphasizing how the competitive tone and behavioral approach of the Nigerians have gone a little over the top since the beginning of the game, in harmony with the attitude of the bench. In any case, the relevance of the theme did turn on the lights on what had been archived simply as the tenth qualification for the round of 16 (in 16 participations) of the boys coached by Giuliano Giannichedda, who will challenge Benevento in Lido di Camaiore on Tuesday.
THE JUDGE
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In the morning, however, the press release from the sports judge arrives to tell the story from another perspective. The suspension of the match is attributed to a decision by the referee, “forced by the aggressive and intimidating attitude of a Ladegbuwa footballer, who hit his arm causing him to drop his whistle and scratch him, thus causing him a personal injury”. The 0-3 draw was inflicted on the Nigerian club, but here little changes compared to the result that was maturing. Running through the provisions, Garuba (one of the two expelled) was disqualified for two months.
THE REPLY
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The organization of the tournament, the Centro Giovani Calciatori, also intervenes punctually through the president Alessandro Palagi. “No to racism is our daily creed – he said – as demonstrated by our history. We also believe that respect for football institutions is a fundamental prerequisite for the smooth running of matches and the event. I reiterate that certain behaviors on the pitch they are not justifiable in any way. I therefore believe that there should be a profound reflection on the part of those who wanted to shoot the Viareggio Cup for free”. In the note, it is pointed out that there is also another Nigerian team in the round of 16 (Mavlon) and that there is a recent positive tradition for African clubs in Viareggio. In the last edition – “with full merit on and off the pitch”, he specifies -, the Nigerian side of Alex Transfiguration reached the final losing on penalties to Sassuolo, with two players of the club awarded among the best of the tournament. From Alex Transfiguration, Inter brought in the talent Akinsanmiro at the end of the January transfer market (for now joined by Cristian Chivu’s Primavera side).
March 26, 2023 (change March 26, 2023 | 3:25 pm)
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