A 26-year-old man has died after being hit by ‘celebratory gunshots’ as Naples celebrated Napoli’s Serie-A triumph last night.
Napoli had not won Italian football’s premiere prize since the days of Diego Maradona in 1990, and celebrated their first Scudetto in 33 years in style.
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Fireworks lit up the skies as people hit the streets in their droves following the team’s draw away at Udinese, which confirmed their insurmountable position at the top of the table.
However, a man has now reportedly been killed following gunfire, with reports suggesting that four men have been injured by the gunfire, which is believed to have been in celebration.
According to the police and Italian newspaper La Repubblica, a 26-year-old man has been pronounced dead, as well as further injuries to two more men after a firecracker exploded in their hands.
The outpouring of relief and joy in Naples has been remarkable, with the side having earned their title this season through dominating performances against the traditional powerhouses of Italian football.
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The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, named for the diminutive Argentine - widely considered as one of the greatest ever players - that carried them to their last Scudetto, was sold out last night with fans watching the game on screens.
There were frenzied scenes inside and outside the stadium at the final whistle, with the celebrations not expected to end any time soon.
In truth, the team limped to the finish line, drawing against Udinese and struggling to find wins towards the business end of the season.
They were also knocked out of the Champions League by fellow Serie-A team AC Milan.
Still, the work was done earlier in the season, with Luciano Spalletti’s men producing swashbuckling attacking displays and blowing the league away in compiling a lead that has proven unassailable.
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Worldwide stars have been created along the way, such as Georgian youngster Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – nicknamed Khvaradona – and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
Huge bids can be expected for both in the summer, but it remains to be seen how this Napoli side will deal with their success, and whether they’ll be able to sustain it.
At the stadium in Udine, in Italy’s north, there were some shocking scenes as fans of both sides clashed on the pitch, with some even carrying belts as weapons.
Police were forced to intervene and stop the fighting.
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However, it will do nothing to dampen the joy in Naples, with a party for the ages set to ensue this weekend, and the team heading back to enjoy the spoils of victory.
The club’s often controversial owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, who stayed in Naples rather than travelling with the team, said: "We have to win this Scudetto again, win it again and win it again and then the Champions League.
“The project never stops, this is a starting point, not an arrival point, it starts again with Spalletti.
“Thank you. You’ve always told me, we want to win and we’ve all won together.”
Topics: Football, Sport, World News
Tom Wood