A devastating act of violence has marred a post-game journey for Italian basketball supporters. The driver of a coach carrying fans of Pistoia Basket, returning from a match against SRS Sebastiani Rieti, tragically lost his life after the vehicle was targeted with stones. The incident occurred on the highway near Rieti, a town northeast of Rome.
According to reports, fans of the rival team are believed to have initiated the attack, hurling objects at the bus. A substantial stone is said to have penetrated the windscreen, striking the driver, 65-year-old Raffaele Marianella, who was not actively driving at the time but was seated at the front. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after the attack.
The violence has been strongly condemned by Italian officials. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the event as an “unacceptable and insane act of violence,” vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi echoed these sentiments, calling the perpetrators “criminals who have turned into murderers and can never be called fans.” The president of the Italian Basketball Federation also voiced outrage, stating that this was not an act of fandom but of criminality.
An investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for this brutal assault.