Hi, the first one was to remember a scandalous killing of a young men (Stefano Cucchi) by italian "carabinieri/police" which just received some justice after so many years: few officers found guilty of beating him to death as well as others for trying to "cover" their pals during investigations.
This may also be related to another guy killed in 1993 just outside Bergamo's stadium by a police attack (no one convicted for that fact) as well as to what happened last february when an entire group of policemen stopped and assaulted a bus of Atalanta's fans on on the way back from Florence on the motorway without any reason (photos and videos can be found online). Truth hasn't come out yet after months despite the evidence and witnesses. It was a way to remind public opinion in italy not to forget police misbehaviours which is too often covered by authorities...
I didn't see the second banner (union Jack) so I can't be of any help. I know Atalanta's has few fans also abroad so it may just be one of them having his personal banner.
I'd like anyone willing to answer a couple of questions:
1) Why almost the whole stadium booed the Champions League anthem?
2) Why there was pratically no City fansgroup starting songs and supporting your team during the game (as italians fans usually do for the whole game? I heard some lively support only when City was leading 3 or 4-1 for instance...
3) Why they put "away" stands close to what looked to be the most "lively" part of City fans (south stand) instead of placing them as they always do in the opposite part of the stadium? this is like putting fire & petrol close each other isn't it?!?
Thanks in advance.
1) We have witnessed many examples of UEFA corruption including:
- being fined more for starting a half 30 seconds than are opponents were racially abusing players.
- being banned from going into the Stadium in Moscow without refunding tickets because our opponents had a home stadium ban. Then thousands of Moscow fans watched the game live
- Lots of dubious refereeing decisions against us.
2. I was surprised our Singing Section didn’t make more noise but there is a general lack of passion for the CL. For example, my brother no longer goes because of UEFA corruption even though I buy his ticket.
3. The police decide where the away section is. Our usually livelier fans buy tickets in the blocks nearby for a better atmosphere. There is rarely any significant trouble in English grounds these days.
For information, I met with Atalanta fans in Sinclairs for a drink before the game. Our Group was interviewed for Italian TV. The Atalanta fans were all good people but there wasn’t a lot of them, partly because of how your Club distributed tickets to prioritise corporate / charter flight customers (who arrived into Manchester late).
The Atalanta fans who I helped with tickets let me down, I think because tickets in the Atalanta end became available on match day. You might make more noise but it doesn’t make your fans better than ours. I still helped an Atalanta fan to get into the ground who was struggling (for free) lol.