The chief executive officer and shareholder of Varese experienced a tense moment after the match against Trapani Shark
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Luis Scola, CEO and main shareholder of Pallacanestro Varese, was assaulted last Sunday, after the 95-88 win over Trapani Shark in the Lega A of Italian basketball. The former captain of the Argentina national team received a kick from behind in the tunnel that connects the court with the locker rooms.
The incident occurred after a heated ending. Minutes earlier, Taze Moore, an American player for Varese, had received a technical foul for an exaggerated celebration, which led Scola to intervene to calm tempers. Amid that tension, Trapani's point guard, Alessandro Cappelletti, pushed the Argentine and was ejected after the referees' review.
However, the subsequent assault did not occur on the parquet, but in an area restricted to authorized personnel, which fueled the hypothesis, spread by Varese News, that the striker could be a worker linked to the home club, although the competition authorities have not yet confirmed it. Fortunately, Scola did not suffer any significant injuries and did not require medical attention.
Scola no sufrió lesiones
Hours later, Varese chose to soften the tone in an official statement. ""The episode falls within the context of a hectic moment, experienced with great emotional intensity by both sides. It was not anything serious or something that goes beyond the normal tensions that can arise in high-level competitive situations. Respect for opponents and for the game remains essential"", they stated.
Meanwhile, from Trapani there was a statement that sparked more controversy. Sporting director Valeriano D'Orta stated at a press conference: ""As was seen tonight, under normal conditions we would have respected the evident differences in the standings with our opponents"", a remark that caused criticism in the Italian media.
The institutional backdrop explains the tense atmosphere. Trapani is dragging a five-point deduction, restrictions on signing players, and financial penalties for contractual breaches. After an unsolved conflict with the Federation and the Legabasket, its management threatened to suspend the championship and take the situation to court, leaving the club isolated from the rest of the teams. In this situation, 15 institutions, including Varese, signed a note in support of the president of the league, Maurizio Gherardini.
