Forlì, 9 June 2024 – A story of Sport, with a capital letter, to be placed in a frame. Rookie category, class of 2012, Walter Montanar football tournament in Granarolo di Cesena organized by Vita Calcio. 72 teams in the field: preliminary phase. Close match between the Vecchiazzano kids who are prevailing over Faenza 2 to 1. Faenza presses in search of an equalizer with a cross towards the Forlì goal. Axel Zavatti initially hooks the ball then, however, in the excitement it slips away from him like a bar of soap. An opposing attacker is quick and scores the 2-2. At this point the referee, probably with a not exactly clear view, blows his whistle and disallows the goal for a presumed one position at number one in Vecchiazzano.
And it’s here that something happens that would always be nice to see on the football pitch: Axel calls the match director and admits that it was his mistake: “There was no foul play”, he tells the referee who validates the goal. The match ends in a draw (2-2). The gesture of the 12 year old strikes everyone present who looks at his sportsmanship with admiration. The boy is a little dazed and, obviously, sorry towards his teammates for having made the mistake but, at this point, he is comforted by the Vita Calcio managers, who instantly decide to find a way to reward his loyalty by making him an example for others boys and give him the well-deserved Fair Play award on the final evening of the Newcomers category. The Faenza sports councilor, Martina Laghi, awarded him the recognition, amidst the applause of the finalist teams of the tournament won by Faenza. Vecchiazzano’s coach, Giovanni Forlivesi, a long-time defender with Forlì, is proud of his boy: “A truly significant gesture – he underlines – with which Axel was able to demonstrate to adults and children alike that in sport the highest values are the fairness and sportsmanship. Much more important than a victory.”
