Noicattaro-Castellana and the non-existent goal, the controversy continues. ”The Federation intervenes” – Football

The controversies around do not subside Noicattaro-Castellanamatch played last Sunday and valid for the Apulian First Category championship (group B), won 1-0 by the away team thanks to a non-existent goal, clamorously awarded in the 18th minute of the first half by the Roman referee from Lecce, when in reality the ball kicked by the player Sabbatelli had hit the outside of the net.

Apologies from Castellana

In reality, everyone in the stadium had already noticed that it was a macroscopic error by the match director, and it is no coincidence that the climate immediately became agitated also due to the exultation of the visiting team. Clearly in these categories having Var or the technology for ghost goals available is pure utopia. And so the Roman referee, despite the vibrant protests of the public and Noicattaro’s bench, did nothing but keep the match going, then won 1-0 by Castellana. For its part, the host club, with a cool head, apologized through a statement on its Facebook page and subsequently the general manager Angelo Cassano he decided to resign to ”protect society and the youngsters”. However, the victim of this sensational mistake, Noicattaro, raised his voice, pointing out not only the referee’s oversight, but the opposing team’s total lack of fair play.

President Pellegrino: ”Willing to play again”

To clarify the episode we contacted directly Joseph Pellegrino, president of Castellana, sincerely sorry for all the turmoil that ensued: “It’s not an easy moment – he admits -. We have the youngest team in the league and we’re probably paying for the inexperience of our players. Our club is 90 years old of history, I’ve been president for 27 years and we’ve always made fair play our point of reference. At the beginning of the season I always tell the players that I’d rather win the Discipline Cup than the championship.” Going back to Sunday’s crime: ” I was present in the stands and, with my managers, at first we thought the ball had gone in. When we realized it, it was too late, but I wanted to write to the Federation communicating our intention to replay the match, I hope to heart also for the good of our boys who are very down in the dumps”. Pellegrino then extends his hand to Noicattaro’s opponents: ”On our part there is all the will to make peace, moreover the mayor of the town was a former player of mine. We hope to repeat the game so we can definitively end this unpleasant situation”. On the resignation of CEO Cassano: ”he felt responsible because he was on the bench. An afterthought? We await the judge’s decisions and we will evaluate what to do”.

Il Noicattaro: ”The Federation should intervene”

Understandably angry (and it is difficult to blame him) Noicattaro, both for the damage caused by the referee’s decision and for the attitude of the opponents. ”We are waiting for the Judge’s decisions – he said Francis Russo, manager of the technical area of ​​the Rossoneri club -. Playing the game again is certainly a way to please everyone, but we also expect other answers from the Federation. This can be an opportunity to give a strong signal and show that you are on the front line against a certain type of behaviour. President Tisci (number one of the Apulian Regional Committee of the National Amateur League, ed) should inflict more severe penalties also to grow as a movement. It can be an example at a national level in terms of sporting loyalty”. On Castellana’s attitude: ”On the pitch, after the episode, none of their managers admitted they were wrong, this thing has left us perplexed. I then read their press release, but in reality the apologies never came to us and I am baffled by this. We don’t want to be considered angels because we aren’t, but we would have expected a different behavior”. Russo then talks about the referee Romano: ” Already during the interval he had noticed the mistake and admitted the mistake, the tones were raised but then we cleared up, so from that point the situation was quite calm. But then we didn’t hear from anyone from the Federation”. And in the event that the match were to be played again, what climate would there be? ”We don’t have it with anyone, it happened to them but it could have happened to anyone. Many of our players are friends of the Castellana boys. In our stadium there will never be a hostile attitude, you can argue and argue on the pitch, but in the 90th minute it’s all over. I repeat, I expect a strong signal from the Federation because pleasing everyone is not the best solution”.