Juventus Condemns Fans for Disrespect During Mazzola Tribute

Juventus issued a strong statement condemning fans who disrupted a minute's silence for the late Italian and Inter Milan icon Sandro Mazzola. The incident occurred before their Serie A match against Atalanta on Sunday. The club emphasized that "No rivalry can justify a lack of respect."

A league-wide minute of silence was observed before all Serie A games this weekend following the news of Mazzola's passing at 83. Mazzola is widely regarded as one of Italy's greatest footballers.

At the Allianz Stadium, however, some supporters in the Curva Sud turned their backs to the pitch and began singing songs in honor of their own club legends, interrupting the tribute. This disruption was quickly overshadowed by applause from other sections of the stadium.

In response, Juventus released a statement criticizing the actions: "No rivalry can justify a lack of respect during a minute’s silence. Honoring the memory of those being remembered and coming together in remembrance during moments of commemoration is a shared responsibility that transcends allegiances and colours."

English Translation:

Juventus has released a statement criticizing supporters who interrupted a minute’s silence for the late Italian and Inter legend Sandro Mazzola ahead of their Serie A match against Atalanta on Sunday, stating: ‘No rivalry can justify a lack of respect.’

A minute’s silence is being held ahead of all Serie A matches this weekend, following Saturday’s news that the legendary Mazzola, widely considered one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time, has died at the age of 83.

This tribute was interrupted at the Allianz Stadium ahead of Juventus’s 2-0 win over Atalanta, however, as certain supporters in the Curva Sud decided to turn their backs towards the pitch and sing songs remembering some of their own club legends instead.

This was soon drowned out by a surging round of applause from the other supporters in the stadium.

Juventus have since released their own statement criticising those who interrupted the minute’s silence, which read: “No rivalry can justify a lack of respect during a minute’s silence. “Honouring the memory of those being remembered and coming together in remembrance during moments of commemoration is a shared responsibility that transcends allegiances and colours.”