The Italian men’s water polo team, known as the Settebellohas been sanctioned in its entirety – players and coaching staff included – with a six-month suspension from international competitions and a fine of 100,000 euros for physically attacking and insulting the referees at the Paris Olympic Games. The punishment will prevent him from competing in the World Cup in January.
The serious infraction occurred on August 7 after the quarterfinal match of the Games, against Hungary, when the Italians were eliminated after losing in the penalty shootout (12-10) after a tie at nine in regulation time.
The reason for the attack
It all started with a disallowed goal against Italy (3-3, in the second quarter) and the expulsion of their player Condemi for hitting a Hungarian rival in the face.
The exemplary sanction has been issued by the Integrity Unit of the World Aquatics (the International Federation, in its new name), “for violating article 5 of the World Aquatic Integrity Code.”
The action of the infraction dates back to the final minutes of the quarterfinal match between Hungary and Italy, with the score 3-3 and the controversy in the water.
With 2m22 left in the second quarter, Francesco Condemi scored the tie at 3 but his hand hit a Hungarian player in the face. The referees reviewed the action on the VAR and decided to annul the goal and send off Condemi. Italy had to wait 4 minutes to return to playing with numerical equality.
Although they tied (9-9), Italy fell on penalties (3-1) and did not advance to the semifinals. At the end of the match, the Italian coach, the veteran Alessandro Campagana, angrily protested against the referees, in a “very aggressive and unsportsmanlike manner,” according to the report from the World Aquatics Integrity Unit.
“I don’t want to think in bad faith. Scientifically, violent play is impossible when a player shoots. It is impossible because you are shooting, you are concentrated, you make the gesture and you cannot hit the opponent. “It was an unacceptable decision,” declared the Italian coach at the end of the match.
Like Mourinho, in the parking lot
The ‘Settebello’ got off the bus to surround and verbally and physically attack the referees, as well as the World Aquatics delegates and officials.
After the defeat in the Défense Arena pool, the Italian team met the refereeing team in the parking lot, just before traveling by bus to the Olympic Village. 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 referees, as well as the delegates and officials of World Aquatics,” as detailed in its report by the International Federation.
The Italian coach, Alessandro 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,” says the report published by World Aquatics.
The referees had to run back inside the venue for help, according to the report, while several members of the Italian team chased the referees.
Unsportsmanlike protest
In the match for fifth place against Spain, the Italians turned their backs on the referees in the initial presentation and went on strike for four minutes
The matter did not end there. The Italians took their particular revenge with a protest in the following match against Spain, in consolation for the fight from 5th to 8th place. The transalpines turned their backs on the referees and the Spanish team in the formal presentation ceremony.
And during the game, during the first four minutes, they played a passive game: the Italians passed the ball to each other without the intention of attacking, and some deliberately moved away from the defense, while Spain took advantage to open a significant lead, 0-4 in 6 minutes.
The Italian Water Polo Federation stated that there was a serious error by the referees that influenced the match, and alleged that “lack of violence and intentionality in the action of Francesco Condemi, which was therefore regular.” In fact, the player was not sanctioned for subsequent matches.
The Italian Water Polo Federation, for its part, despite announcing that it will not appeal the sanction, insisted that there was a serious error by the referees that influenced the match.
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