Tragedy after Rieti-Pistoia: team bus driver dies, murder probe | OneFootball

Tragic ambush on the Rieti-Terni: a bus driver of the Pistoia fans has died. A case for voluntary manslaughter has been opened.

Tragedy after Rieti-Pistoia Basket: bus driver dead, investigations for voluntary manslaughter

A Sunday of sports turned into tragedy along the Rieti-Terni highway. The bus driver transporting Pistoia Basket fans back from the away game in Rieti died after being hit by a brick thrown at the vehicle. The Rieti Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation for voluntary manslaughter. The basketball world, shocked, reacts with indignation and sorrow.

The dynamics of the assault

According to initial reconstructions, the ambush occurred near the Contigliano junction, shortly after the end of the Serie A2 game between Sebastiani Rieti and Estra Pistoia, won by the Tuscans. The bus of the red and white fans was hit by a barrage of stones: rocks and bricks struck the front of the vehicle, breaking through the windshield at one point.

The victim, Raffaele Marianella, 65 years old, the second driver of the bus, was reportedly fatally hit by a concrete block that pierced the glass. The efforts of the 118 rescue team were in vain: the man died shortly after the arrival of the medical staff.

Police and Carabinieri intervened on the scene, while the Digos of Rieti is collecting testimonies and surveillance footage. About ten fans of Sebastiani Rieti have already been questioned overnight at the police station.

The investigations: hypothesis of voluntary manslaughter

The Rieti Prosecutor's Office has opened a case for voluntary manslaughter against unknown persons. The investigations focus on reconstructing the exact dynamics and identifying those responsible for throwing the stones. Investigators aim to determine whether the attack was premeditated or an isolated act linked to tensions between fan groups.

The grief of the family

The victim's daughter, Federica Marianella, expressed her sorrow on social media: “I will always keep you in my heart,” she wrote on Instagram, accompanying the message with a photo of her father. A simple but heartbreaking message that encapsulates the absurdity of a death that occurred only for the love of sport.

Reactions from the sports world

The president of Federbasket Gianni Petrucci, speaking on Sky Sport24, used very harsh words: “We are talking about murderers, there are no other terms. Our sympathy for the family is total.”

Petrucci also announced:

the convening of an extraordinary Federal Council meeting at 3:00 PM,

the presence of the president of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio and the Italian coach Luca Banchi,

and the cancellation of the friendly match between the National team and Sebastiani Rieti, scheduled for the coming days.

“I also want to hear Banchi's opinion on the matter,” added Petrucci.

The positions of the clubs

The statement from Pistoia Basket

“We learned with dismay the news of the death of one of the two drivers on duty on the bus transporting fans back from Rieti. The club is shocked by the dynamics that caused the incident. President Joseph David and the entire club stand by the victim's family.”

The message from Sebastiani Rieti

“What happened leaves us stunned. The bus of the visiting fans was the victim of an unqualifiable act that caused the death of a man. Sebastiani completely dissociates from what happened and expresses the sincerest condolences. This is a very serious matter that has nothing to do with sport.”

The words of Minister Abodi

Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi also commented on the incident: “How is it possible to die like this? It is a question that cannot find an answer. Sport should unite, not kill.”

A wound for all Italian basketball

The basketball world is experiencing hours of shock. Violence, once again, turns a game into tragedy and reopens the debate on safety during sports trips. While developments in the investigation are awaited, one thing is certain: the death of Raffaele Marianella leaves a deep mark, not only in Pistoia or Rieti but throughout the entire Italian sports movement.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.