«Pallacanestro Viola and all its management will be able to count on the full support of the mayor and the municipal administration in the appeal against the heavy sanctions imposed by the sports judge for the events that occurred at the end of the last home match against Messina. The decision taken by the sports authorities also appears abnormal compared to the images which clearly, clearly and evidently demonstrate the succession of events.” This is what is stated by the mayor of Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Falcomatà, who, in condemning all forms of violence, expresses his doubts «towards a decision that damages the image of the city, of society and of a fan base that, in Italy and in each category has always stood out for its warmth, colour, seriousness and composure”.
«Looking at the videos, which have now gone viral – explains the mayor – it becomes frankly difficult to understand the contents of the referee’s report which led the Sports Judge to express himself in such a peremptory and punitive manner. Even reading the reports of the most excited phases of the match, you risk being disoriented if you think about the enormity of the punishment awarded to the neroarancio club.”
«The four-day disqualification of PalaCalafiore – continues Falcomatà – represents an unfair and sensational blow to the efforts of a serious and correct team which, with many sacrifices, has managed to bring people back to being passionate about a sport which, over the years, has represented a source of pride for the whole of Calabria and has contributed to training generations of valid basketball players.”
«In expressing maximum solidarity with the president Laganà, the staff and the players of the Viola – concludes Giuseppe Falcomatà – we trust that, in the next level of judgement, the truth will be re-established and justice will be done with respect to an affair that shakes the souls of many fans of Reggio basketball and undermines the good performance of a team that is demonstrating, on the field, that it has no rivals in the race to win a championship that has so far been exciting and, above all, credible”
