Monza’s request to move Monday’s home game against Bologna has been rejected by the Italian Football Association. The number fifteen in the Serie A wanted to have the game postponed because of the stabbing incident around Pablo Marí, but that is not being followed. As a result, Monza will simply play in the Stadio Brianteo on Monday evening.
The stabbing of Marí in Milan has quite an impact on the selection of Monza, defender Filippo Ranocchia explains in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We really couldn’t believe it. It seemed bizarre that one of our teammates had been stabbed while he was just shopping with his family.” The Monza players were very relieved to hear that Marí was out of danger. “We wanted to go straight to him, but we were told it was better to wait.”
“When Pablo woke up and wrote to us that the worst was over and he couldn’t wait to get back, it was absolutely beautiful,” Ranocchia added. Monza actually does not want to take action on Monday, but the Italian federation does not want to cooperate. “Against Bologna we will play for Pablo, but also for Luis Fernando Ruggieri, who lost his life in the deranged attack. In thoughts are with him and his loved ones and everyone involved from that terrible evening.” Marí was stabbed along with five others by a confused man on Thursday evening. One person was killed, while the condition of two victims is still critical.
Marí looked on Friday at the request of La Gazzetta dello Sport back to the attack in the center of Milan. “I was with my wife and son and I was pushing the pram, when I suddenly felt an unbearable pain in my back. Immediately after that the man stabbed a girl in the throat. I was lucky myself, because I saw a person before my eyes die,” said the former defender of NAC Breda, among others, whose injuries turned out to be not too bad.