A minute's silence in memory of Serie
A midfielder and coach Algo Agroppi, who died Thursday aged 80,
will only be observed in Italy and not in Riyadh, where a match
between Inter and Atalanta will kick off the final four of the
Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night.
The Serie A league said the decision was taken out of respect
for Agroppi's memory and to avoid boos at the stadium given it
is not a local custom to observe a minute of silence for the
dead which is instead considered offensive.
Observing it would be perceived as a provocation, the league
explained.
One year ago during the Super Cup, in the second half of the
final match, the minute's silence in memory of Gigi Riva, the
Italy legend who died at 79 after suffering a heart attack, was
covered in boos.
The same had happened a few days before, also in Riyadh, before
the semifinal march of the Spanish super Cup between Real Madrid
and Atletico, when the homage for former West Germany captain
and manager Franz Beckenbauer was also opposed by the public.
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