The entire Italian men’s water polo team, including players and coaching staff, received a 6-month suspension sanction, which will prevent him from playing in the next World Cupand a fine of 100,000 euros for physically attacking and insulting the refereeing body after being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“The adjudicating body of the Aquatic Integrity Unit has issued a six-month suspension to the Italian men’s water polo team from participating in any World Aquatics competitions and events for violate article 5 of the Global Aquatic Integrity Code“, reported the World Aquatics Integrity Unit.
“The Italian men’s water polo team will not be able to participate in the next Aquatic Water Polo World Cup. In addition, the team has been fined $100,000, of which $50,000 must be paid within 90 days. The remaining 50,000 are suspended and will only be paid if the team commits another infraction before October 17, 2026,” the official statement added.
At the Paris Olympic Games, Italy was eliminated against Hungary on August 7, after a very controversial match in which the ‘Settebello’ tried to appeal a decision of the referees who could change the course of the game.
With 2 minutes and 22 seconds left in the second quarter, Francesco Condemi scored the tie at 3 but his hand hit one of the Hungarian players in the face during the shooting motion. The referees reviewed the action in the VAR and decided to annul the goal and expel Condemi. Italy had to wait 4 minutes to return to playing with numerical equality.
Hungary ultimately won 12-10 in the penalty shootout. Alessandro Campagna, Italian coach, “He protested against the referees in a very aggressive and unsportsmanlike manner”as explained by the Integrity Unit that issued the sanction.
After the defeat was certified, the ‘Settebello’ found herself while she was going to get on the bus to return to the Olympic Village with the refereeing team in the parking lot of the sports venueand it was at that moment when the physical attack on the referees occurred.
“When the bus was about to leave, Italy noticed that the referees were in the parking area. They got off the bus to surround and verbally and physically attack the refereesas well as the delegates and officials of World Aquatics,” said the aforementioned organization.
In particular, the Italian coach, Campagna, “began to attack the referees, accusing them of being responsible for what happened during the match“.
“What do you know about water polo? You are from Montenegro… Your career as a referee is over“, states the report published by the official integrity body.
The referees had to run back inside the premises in search of helpaccording to the report. Several members of the Italian team chased the referees. Furthermore, in the next match, against Spain, the Italian team stood with its back to the referees of the match as a protest.
The Italian Water Polo Federation, for its part, despite announcing that it will not appeal the sanction, He insisted that there was a serious error by the referees that influenced the game.
“As is well known, the appeals presented by the Italian Water Polo Federation in the 36 hours following the match, although rejected, led to the admission by the world aquatic organizations of the lack of violence and intentionality in the action of Francesco Condemiwhich was therefore regular,” he detailed in his statement.
The Italian was not sanctioned for the subsequent matches, for the fight for fifth place. “Therefore, the 3-3 scored by the ‘Settebello’ striker against Hungary was valid; the striker should not have been sent off, Italy should not have played 4 minutes with one less“and the Hungarians should not have benefited from the 4-2 penalty,” he said.
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