Supporters and Rivalries
Genoa CFC has the bulk of its fans in Liguria, however they are also popular in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. The seafaring traditions of the Genoese and the presence of Genoese communities in distant countries did much to spread the appeal of Genoa some further than just Italy, and immigrants founded fan clubs in Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Toronto, New York, San Francisco, Barcelona, Iceland and other places.
The most significant and traditional rivalry for Genoa, is the inner-city one with the club with whom they share a ground; Sampdoria. The two clubs compete together in the heated Derby della Lanterna ("Derby of the Lantern"); a reference to the Genoa lighthouse. Genoa's supporters also have a strong distaste for AC Milan, after a clash between opposing supporters in January 1995 resulted in the death of genoese Vincenzo Spagnolo who was stabbed to death by milanese Simone Barbaglia, a member of an informal group of football hooligans dubbed "The Barbour Ones", who used to routinely carry bladed weapons to matches (a practice made possible by the leaky security measures of the time).
Conversely, the fans of Genoa have long standing friendships with Napoli (which goes back to the 1982 last match of the season). On the last day of the 2006–07 season, Genoa and Napoli drew a practical 0–0 ensuring both were promoted back into Serie A; Genoa ultras could be seen holding up banners saying "Benvenuto fratello napoletano", meaning, "Welcome, Neapolitan brother," and the two sets of fans celebrated together in a warm and ever-cooperating manner. On the other hand the amicable relationship with the red-and-yellow supporters of AS Roma, fostered by the cession of striker Roberto Pruzzo in 1979 and lasting for most of the 80's has, in recent years, cooled up a bit while another strong fraternity, which saw Genoese football fans on friendly terms with Torino (since the exchange of Gigi Meroni between the two clubs at the end of the 1963–64 season and his untimely death on 15 October 1967 ) has perhaps fouled-up for good during the Torino-Genoa match of season 2008–2009.
Starved for points and risking an humiliating relegation (one of many in a troubled recent history) the turinese fans expected a friendly treatment from Genoa, which, in the heat of a pitched battle with Fiorentina for the fourth place (which could have won a Champions League spot for the team) could not comply, soundly beating Torino and to many effects sealing its fate. When during early August 2009 Genoa did schedule a friendly match with OGC Nice in southern Piedmont many Turinese hooligans traveled to the match location with the precise intention of starting trouble and disorder to "get even" with Genoa and its fans.
Read more about this topic: Genoa C.F.C.
Famous quotes containing the word supporters:
“No Government can be long secure without a formidable Opposition. It reduces their supporters to that tractable number which can be managed by the joint influences of fruition and hope. It offers vengeance to the discontented, and distinction to the ambitious; and employs the energies of aspiring spirits, who otherwise may prove traitors in a division or assassins in a debate.”
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)