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22nd April 2012
04:45pm BST
The relationship between Serie A clubs and their ‘Ultra’ fans is interesting to say the least. Genoa’s hardcore demanded, and got, the shirt off the backs of their players mid-game today.
The threat of relegation does strange things to fans. While Wolves fans, staring at the drop, were happy to sing their hearts out today against title-chasing Manchester City, fans of Genoa in Italy were not so positive.
Genoa have been very poor all season, with the worst defensive record in Italy’s top flight. Before today’s round of games, Genoa sat just outside the relegation zone and they were on the end of yet another hiding today, at home, to Siena, losing 4-0 just after the start of the second half.
The club’s hardcore support, known as Ultras, were, as you can imagine, very unhappy. But rather than singing a quick few verses of ‘Sack The Board’ they decided they let the players know how useless they thought they were.
According to reports, flares and other missiles were thrown on the pitch and the referee had no choice but to halt the game. The players then engaged in debate with the Ultras, led by captain Marco Rossi, but the Ultras had a demand. A very unusual demand.
They wanted the players to give them their shirts, deeming them unworthy to wear them. After some discussion, incredibly, the players agreed. All bar Giuseppe Sculli agreed while Giandomenico Mesto was in tears as he handed his shirt over.
Sculli then went to talk to the fans and after the head Ultra agreed, Sculli was let off and play could resume after a delay of about 30 minutes.
Tifosi del Genoa invadono gli altri settori! by CalcioNapoliWeb
We don’t remember seeing anything like it before and while Genoa did score before the end, via a Siena own goal, they lost 4-1. It’s a funny old game as they say and it certainly is in Italy.
