Gigi Riva passed away suddenly at the age of 79 after a heart attack. In addition to the many greetings from a football world in mourning, politics is also raging around the Italian legend’s family. “A great athlete who marked the history of football and our national team leaves us. May the earth enlighten you, champion”, the condolences of Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister, on social media.
“Many Italians, and I among them, learn of the sudden news of Gigi Riva’s death with real sadness. His sporting successes, his very serious character, the dignity of his behavior in all circumstances earned him the affection of millions of Italians, even among those who did not follow football. I express my condolences and a feeling of sincere closeness to the family”, is the note from the head of State, Sergio Mattarella.
Words that reiterate the esteem and appreciation for the ‘Rombo di Tuono’ that Mattarella expressed last October in a message sent to the vice-president of the Commission ‘A statue for Gigi Riva’, Giovanni Dore, on the occasion of the inauguration of the mural dedicated to the Cagliari and national team striker at Amsicora Stadium. “Gigi Riva – wrote the then Head of State – chose to be a Sardinian, to share the identity and human values of this land. Gigi Riva’s intense relationship with Sardinia grew over time until he made it his home, not only choosing to play only for the Cagliari team during the entire period of his professional commitment, but also deciding to continue living on the island even after the end of your sporting activity. activity. His role as a football player in the Italian national team and later as a coach was fundamental when the Italian team won the 2006 World Cup.” “Gigi Riva, in addition to being a great champion and an unforgettable protagonist of Italian football, represents – he said Mattarella on that occasion – an example of sporting loyalty, an extraordinary testimony to new generations of how sport should be understood, of how ‘played football’ can be an example of those values that are crucial to make an excellent player a great man.” .
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
