On Sunday afternoon, February 23, violent clashes erupted between supporters of Perugia and Lucchese at the Versilia service area on the A12 highway, resulting in chaos and traffic disruptions.
The altercation, which involved upwards of 350 fans according to some estimates, began around 4:00 PM as Perugia supporters allegedly ambushed their Lucchese counterparts. Witnesses reported seeing fans with covered faces hurling smoke bombs and engaging in physical fights, transforming the highway area near Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi, typically known for its scenic beauty, to one resembling a battleground.
Both teams were traveling to play their matches for the 28th round of Serie C, with Perugia scheduled to face Virtus Entella and Lucchese set to take on Sestri Levante. The matches took place away from home, and tensions had reportedly been growing between the two rival tifoserie leading up to this event. This shared schedule likely acted as the spark for the clash.
The initial confrontation began at the service area, where fans from Perugia, anticipating the arrival of Lucchese supporters, launched an attack as the latter entered. Minuti di autentico caos ensued, with reports indicating the brawl extended onto the A12 itself, disrupting traffic as cars had to slow down or halt entirely. The resulting scene was one of confusion, as vehicles were stopped by the sheer volume of people clashing on the roadway.
Due to the violence, police were called to the scene, leading to the temporary closure of part of the A12 highway direction, which caused extensive traffic jams stretching for about one kilometer. Despite the severity of the situation, remarkably, there were no initial reports of serious injuries or arrests, which many from both football clubs had feared.
Local authorities and witnesses alike expressed concern about the deterioration of fan behavior during sporting events, emphasizing the urgent need for improved safety measures. The area’s police, working on reconstructing the events, noted the challenges of preventing such clashes, especially when fans are mobilizing en masse to attend away games.
The nature of sporting rivalries, particularly within Italian football, has the potential to escalate quickly, especially when accompanied by historical grievances. Journal reports suggested echoes of previous incidents, including reports from the recent match at Porta Elisa, where tensions had already been high. Since the Lucchese had recently defeated Perugia, leading to managerial upheaval at Perugia, emotions were running rampant on both sides.
The overall situation posed serious questions about public safety, with authorities now scrambling to find measures to mitigate risks associated with fan engagements at future matches. This incident serves as another lamentable chapter for passionate but often volatile football culture.
It also leaves families and fans of both clubs reconsidering their allegiances and expressions of passion for the game—highlighting the need for dialogue and potentially safer environments at sporting events to prevent such regrettable displays of violence from recurring.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, seeking to gather information from witnesses and any available security footage to fully understand the dynamics of what escalated on this fateful afternoon. There might be severe repercussions for the groups involved if they are found violating laws set to safeguard public welfare.