Scudetto celebrations turn tragic: One dead and multiple injured in Naples

A 1-1 draw away to Udinese was good enough to see Napoli secure their first Serie A title win in 33 years as thousands took to the streets to celebrate.

Napoli’s title celebration as Serie A champions got underway with ugly scenes on the Dacia Arena pitch in Udine. As the final whistle sounded to mark the end of the Udinese-Napoli match, hundreds of Azzurri fans invaded the pitch to celebrate the Scudetto win following the 1-1 draw. 

During the celebrations, however, around 50 Udinese ultras entered the pitch and started fighting with rival fans with skirmishes and brawls breaking out on the playing surface.

One Napoli fans was stretchered from the pitch as local law enforcement officers eventually managed to restore order.

Naples mayhem

In Naples, one man died from gunshot wounds and hundreds were injured overnight as the southern Italian city exploded in joy at the success of the team, a local government official said on Friday.

Partying began late on Thursday as thousands took to the streets after Napoli secured the draw in Udine.

Napoli: Serie A 2022/23 winners 🏆#Napul3 🇮🇹 campione! #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/Z3Yj0ZEZot

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 Hours later, a 26-year-old man died from gunshot wounds but the incident had “nothing to do with the celebrations”, Naples Prefect Claudio Palomba told RAI public radio.

Friends and relatives of the victim vandalised the emergency room where he had been rushed to according to a series of Italian news agencies.

Police are investigating the death, Palomba said, adding that of the many more people who were hurt during the night, some suffered fireworks injuries.

Wild partying was widely expected in Naples over the “Scudetto” title win, and authorities had taken several steps to try to contain risks to public order.

The city centre was pedestrianised while fireworks and firecrackers were banned, but that did not stop Neapolitans celebrating with flares, smoke bombs and other pyrotechnics throughout the night.