Fiorentina director Joe Barone is fighting for his life at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan but still, several people in Italy complain that the Tuscans’ match against Atalanta was postponed.
Atalanta-Fiorentina was postponed to a later date on Sunday after the Viola director Barone suffered a heart attack hours before the match.
The incident happened inside the Fiorentina Hotel and players were informed about it before a technical briefing.
Barone is in critical condition and Fiorentina said in an official statement on Monday that the 57-year-old’s ‘vital functions are supported by artificial mechanical support techniques.’
Quite incredibly several fans in the Peninsula have not understood why Lega Serie A decided to postpone the game on Sunday.
Thousands of people have been protesting on social media because Lega Serie A did not adopt the same measures in other cases, such as floods, while others asked whether a sudden illness to an ordinary fan would have led to the same decision.
Enrico Mentana, one of Italy’s most popular journalists, described these comments as ‘bleak and woeful’ but ‘unsurprising.’
Unfortunately, certain comments were predictable and surely inappropriate. Aside from the lack of empathy that some people have, it is ridiculous to think that Fiorentina players could go on the pitch after such a huge shock.
Barone isn’t only a simple Fiorentina director; he is Rocco Commisso’s right-hand man, the person in charge of all things at the club, especially when the President isn’t around. He follows the team in every game, at home and away, and meets players daily. Of course, they couldn’t play Atalanta knowing that Barone was fighting for his life at a Hospital.
Don’t forget some of these players, including Cristiano Biraghi, were already part of the team when their captain, Davide Astori, died in his sleep at the club’s hotel before an away game at Udinese only six years ago.
It doesn’t matter which decisions Lega Serie A made in the past, right or wrong. This was the only one acceptable and appropriate. Atalanta-Fiorentina could not be played, and of course, La Dea immediately agreed to postpone the match.
You may think such a clarification is unnecessary, but unfortunately, it is required as many people still don’t understand football is not the most important thing in life.
Of course, there are multiple exceptions, including most Fiorentina fans who have been sending messages of support to Barone, who will turn 58 in just two days.
Right now, the only thing that matters is hopefully receiving good news from the San Raffaele Hospital, where Fiorentina players, staff members, and Italian football personalities have been arriving since Sunday to support Barone and his family.