Leonardo Bonucci did not disguise his irritation after controversy around Italy’s open-top bus parade. ‘I would be a good Minister for the Interior…’
The Azzurri wanted to celebrate their UEFA EURO 2020 triumph when flying back to Rome from London on Monday.
Local authorities claim they only authorised a closed bus, hoping to minimise the number of people who would congregate while there are still COVID restrictions on social distancing, but Bonucci and the FIGC managed to get an open-top bus instead.
Controversy has raged ever since and Bonucci laughed off suggestions he ‘threatened’ the local authorities in Rome if they didn’t allow the parade.
“I am in the wrong line of work. Never mind football, I should’ve been in politics. I would be a good Minister for the Interior,” Bonucci told Il Foglio newspaper.
The most surprising part of that statement is that the Juventus centre-back didn’t pick Minister for Defence.
“Let us be clear, the entire delegation asked for an open-top bus and seeing as the covered bus was blocked anyway and there were already people in the streets, the authorities agreed to the open-top bus, saying they’d be able to handle the situation.
“We would never dare step in to over-rule the authorities, who I imagine evaluated what happened in Piazza del Popolo the night before and then the effect our drive through the city would have.
“Everyone has their role. Unfortunately, it’s a very Italian habit to pass the blame onto others.”
Italy won the European Championship for only the second time in their history, after the 1968 edition, beating England at Wembley Stadium on penalties following the 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, the jerseys worn by the Azzurri during the tournament have been placed into the Museum of Calcio at Coverciano.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina also spoke today about the bus controversy.
“This team managed to unite all of Italy, so let’s not fall into the trap of using them to divide yet again.”
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