Nicolo Zaniolo, the Italian international and Galatasaray midfielder, has been fined €15,000 by the Italian FA (FIGC) for a controversial incident involving AS Roma youth players. The incident occurred on May 25th at the Viola Park training complex in Florence, following a youth tournament semi-final match between Fiorentina and Roma. Zaniolo, who was on loan at Fiorentina at the time, allegedly entered the Roma youth team's locker room, leading to a confrontation.
AS Roma released a statement accusing Zaniolo of inappropriate behavior, including insults, physical aggression, and urinating in the locker room. Roma stated that Zaniolo appeared visibly intoxicated and, without any verbal exchange, physically struck Mattia Almaviva and violently pushed Marco Litti against a bench. They also noted that Litti had recently undergone shoulder surgery. According to Roma, both players required hospitalization, with Almaviva receiving a 10-day recovery prognosis and Litti a 21-day prognosis. Roma expressed their support for their youth players and condemned the violent behavior, trusting that institutions would act decisively.
Zaniolo has denied the accusations of serious misconduct. He claims that he only responded to provocation and left the premises quickly. He also insists that Roma's accusations of him urinating in the facilities are unfounded, stating that he "completely legitimately used one of the toilets" at his club's training ground. Zaniolo admitted to being involved in a verbal exchange but denied any physical altercation. He stated that he went to the locker room to congratulate both the Fiorentina and Roma players but left after being insulted.
Following an investigation, the FIGC found no evidence of punches or slaps, but noted that Zaniolo had pushed one of the players in the neck. Both youths sought medical attention, but no injuries were reported. Zaniolo admitted fault and expressed remorse, publicly apologizing on social media. He accepted the €15,000 fine as part of an agreement with the FIGC's disciplinary committee, avoiding a harsher penalty. He also received an official warning that repeating such behavior could lead to severe disciplinary action.
The incident has sparked considerable debate and controversy within Italian football. Roma's official statement emphasized details that they considered "marginal and laughable," such as the alleged urination, while Zaniolo maintains that the accusations are "completely unfounded and far from the truth". Despite his denials, Zaniolo has accepted the fine and apologized for his actions, acknowledging some level of responsibility for the confrontation.
