Writing in Il Giornale, Tony Damascelli commented on the Inter-Roma situation, describing the constant agitation among the various bodies of the so-called football world – the Football Federation (Federcalcio) and Serie A League, supervised by CONI and overseen by the Interior and Sport Ministries. He states that a simple football match has devolved into a bureaucratic and organizational mess.
A national day of mourning clashed with the Serie A early schedule, and the unforeseen situation triggered an emergency response. The match kick-off time and even the day changed unpredictably and frequently, like shifting light and shadow. Rumors multiplied rapidly: whispers of a dramatic waiver for Saturday evening, murmurs about a postponement to Sunday at 12:30 PM, and hushed tones suggesting a 3:00 PM start.
Damascelli notes that “too many people,” described as “amateurs at large,” spoke from the “reeds,” exposing the football system`s shocking lack of depth and revealing how the mourning period seemed merely an inconvenience, a nuisance to the established schedule. News spread like wildfire, leading to furious reactions and outrage directed at Inter, accused of turning national mourning into “International mourning.”
A narrative emerged suggesting it was the champion club itself that cleverly rejected the waiver – capable of transforming instantly from a scoundrel (“marchese del Grillo”) to a saint (“Mother Teresa”). Meanwhile, Roma merely observed this “northern charade,” and conspicuously, nobody seemed to spare a thought for the fans.