Mattia Giani’s father: «His death may not be in vain: never again on the pitch without a doctor»

«Revenge is not for us. We can’t hate anyone”, says Sandro Giani, who until last Monday was the father of two boys. But then, Mattia died in Careggi hospital after last Sunday it was collapsed on the field in Campi Bisenzio (Florence).

He, striker of Castelfiorentino, was playing against Lanciotto «when he fell in front of my eyes and I thought it wasn’t real». Sandro Giani is a person with a good voice and mild eyes: he speaks with humanity, never an outburst. “I I can’t find the adjectives and words right at this moment,” he says.

Last Sunday she was to see her son.
«Mattia went to the stadium as always. He wanted to play and score goals. I, my wife Debora, his girlfriend Sofia and his grandfather Loriano were there to see him: it must have been a day of joy.”

What happened after he collapsed to the ground?
«We ran from the stands towards the field. We couldn’t get in. I called the ambulance but it took a quarter of an hour (17 minutes, in reality, according to the referee, ed.) to arrive. There was no doctor on the sideline. The defibrillator was brought out but not used. My son was helped by the masseur from Castelfiorentino. I called 118 several times, I asked for the air ambulance to be activated, nothing. Then a doctor who was among the spectators came down from the stands to provide assistance. Finally the ambulance arrived: only at that point was the defibrillator used.”

The prosecutors hypothesized the crime of manslaughter against unknown persons.
«No one will be able to give my son back to us. The greatest pain for a parent is surviving their child. Do you see this house? It’s a normal house. I have a laundry, we are normal people. We were never interested in money. But what she sees was the house of happiness. Since Sunday it has no longer been so.”

She didn’t file a complaint.
«I told the police what I had already told the Corriere della SeraI didn’t file a complaint. This is because I want the truth but I don’t hate anyone. And because I think that Mattia’s death must serve some purpose.”

For what exactly?
«I want a very specific message to pass on. The FIGC must prevent a football competition from taking place if there is no doctor on the pitch. If a football club, which pays money to have players, cannot afford to pay a doctor, then it is better not to play. My son didn’t drink or smoke, he had had knee problems. Anything could have happened that Sunday. It may be that fate wanted it that way. But it must no longer happen that a boy is not helped by a doctor if he feels ill on the pitch.”

Go to all the news of Florence

The newsletter

If you want to stay updated on Florence news, subscribe for free to the Corriere Fiorentino newsletter. Arrives directly in your inbox every day at 12pm. Just click here

April 19, 2024 (modified April 19, 2024 | 12:17)

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED