Ciro Immobile released a furious statement accusing Torino President Urbano Cairo of ‘serious, defamatory insults’ after the 0-0 draw with Lazio.
There was tension in the stands at the final whistle, with Cairo pulled away by members of staff after seemingly arguing with Lazio chief Claudio Lotito.
Ciro Immobile released a furious statement accusing Torino President Urbano Cairo of ‘serious, defamatory insults’ after the 0-0 draw with Lazio.
There was tension in the stands at the final whistle, with Cairo pulled away by members of staff after seemingly arguing with Lazio chief Claudio Lotito.
The point was enough to secure Torino’s Serie A status and Immobile fired a penalty onto the upright before Manuel Lazzari also hit the woodwork in the final minute.
It seems the row continued on the pitch, as Immobile released this statement on Instagram.
“Everyone knows who Ciro Immobile is. On the pitch and above all off it. I can accept criticism to the player, not serious, defamatory insults to the man I am. Above all if these come from directors in the football world.
“At the end of this evening’s game, Torino President Urbano Cairo walked up to me at the entrance to the Lazio locker room and started insulting me, verbally attacking me and accusing me of playing ‘with bloodshot eyes’ and other things regarding the first game this season against Torino, going so far as to suggest I played that game while positive for COVID.
“I will never stop thanking President Cairo for giving me the chance to make my mark at Torino as a player, but I cannot let this go, as it is an incident that goes beyond the football realm.
“Everyone knows who Ciro Immobile is: a player, yes, but above all a man who respects the rules and the principles of fair play. I cannot tolerate insults and accusations that defame, without any valid reason, my person.”
Playing with bloodshot eyes is an Italian phrase referring to someone who is so determined to win that he bursts blood vessels, someone perhaps excessively competitive.
Torino and Lazio have been in conflict all season, as in their last meeting, the Granata were winning 3-2 until the 94th minute, going on to lose 4-3.
It later emerged Immobile and several other players had inconclusive COVID results, so they were not allowed to play in the Champions League that same week, but were given the all-clear in Serie A.
There was an investigation into the Salerno clinic that performed Lazio’s COVID tests and President Lotito was fined, banned for seven months and their team doctors suspended for a year.