What was Sports Minister Andrea Abodi doing at the meeting that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had (in Tripoli) with the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dabaiba, on 7 May?
The answer, as reported by Francesco Caremani on Tomorrow, lies in one of the many aspects that characterize the much discussed Mattei Plan. In fact, on that occasion the two countries signed a Declaration of Intent (in the presence of their respective Heads of Delegation) which concerns three areas: higher education and scientific research; collaboration in the field of health and medical sciences; and on sports and youth policies. And so we come to the news that concerns the Tuscany Region, and in particular Florence, Pisa and Empoli.
In fact, from 26 June to 9 July these cities will host the “Final six” of the Libyan championship in which the title of national champion of this season will be awarded. They will be the ones to play for it in a round-robin format six teams with possible playoff in case of finishing with equal points.
And here it is worth focusing in particular on the capital. The venue chosen for the matches to be played in Florence it is the Curva Fiesole stadium of Viola Park where four matches will be played: one on June 27th, one on the 30th, one on July 3rd and the last on the 6th of the same month.
President Commisso’s request to the club came directly from the Italian Government through Minister Abodi who has repeatedly expressed his appreciation for the work carried out by Fiorentina in the creation of what is now recognized as the most beautiful and functional sports center in Italy and as one of the best (and largest) in the world.
It is no coincidence that the same head of the Department of Sport has visited Viola Park several times. He did it in February 2023 while the construction sites were still open and was obviously present last October for the official inauguration.
In short, it was in those months that a positive and constructive relationship was formed between the parties and precisely for this reason there was an immediate positive response from the company.
With one exception: the possible play-off.
In fact, that match cannot be played at Viola Park because Fiorentina’s preparations will begin in the following days under the orders of the new coach Raffaele Palladino and it was therefore impossible to combine the first team’s training with the match that could award the title of champion of Libya. The four matches that will be played in Bagno a Ripoli will however be behind closed doors neutral spectators and the stands will only be able to access via special invitations.
Different story, however, for the matches that will be played at Castellani in Empoli and at the Arena Garibaldi in Pisa. This agreement, which, as mentioned, is part of a much broader strategy and which demonstrates how sport can become a very powerful tool of “Soft Power”.
Just think about the recent World Cup in Qatar, or when, in order to keep Mbappè one more year in the French championship (and at PSG in particular), even Emmanuel Macron took the field. Now it is Libya that (also) exploits the ball and, after having played the last two championships in Tunisia, here is the landing in Italy. Football, and politics. A combination that is certainly not new, which this time sees Tuscany taking the field.
