Submitted by Sam Ferguson on the 2024 Winter HIST program in Italy…
One of the most unique and remarkable experiences I have had in Florence was at a soccer match played by the city’s local club, ACF Fiorentina. Fiorentina has long been one of my favorite teams in European soccer due to the unique beauty of its crest and jerseys, the storied history of the club, and the team’s resilience in recent years. The club is one of few teams to use the color purple in its designs – thus becoming known as La Viola – and this uncommon design choice has helped Fiorentina stand out from the pack with a unique and beautiful aesthetic. In addition, Fiorentina holds a storied history in Italian soccer, for although it has rarely won the Serie A (Italy’s national soccer league) it has featured numerous iconic players, including Roberto Baggio, Gabriel Batistuta, and Rui Costa. Although La Viola has suffered from bankruptcy and many other obstacles in recent decades, the club continues to persevere and play an important role in modern Italian football.
At the match that my friends and I saw, Fiorentina played against fellow Serie A club Udinese. Fiorentina looked shaky at the start of the match, suffering from defensive errors that allowed Udinese to take the lead early on. However, by the second half La Viola had steadily reasserted itself, and in the 55th minute the club’s forward Lucas Beltran leveled the score with a brilliant header. By this point Fiorentina looked to be in control of the game, but in the 73rd minute Udinese gained possession, started a fast break, and scored a goal to retake the lead from out of nowhere. Over the next 10 minutes, Fiorentina tried and failed to equalize the score yet again, hitting the post once and squandering multiple other chances. However, in the 86th minute, a handball from a Udinese player inside the penalty box led to a penalty kick for Fiorentina, which the club’s other forward M’Bala Nzola buried into the bottom right corner to bring the game back to 2-2. Ultimately, the game ended with this score, and Fiorentina was able to earn a draw after coming from behind twice against Udinese.
Fiorentina’s performance was not a terribly impressive showing, but it created an exciting match that contributed to an electric atmosphere at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. This intense atmosphere was also fueled by the club’s amazing fans, who provided an extraordinary energy throughout the entire match. This energy was most prominent in the section containing Fiorentina’s ultras. Ultras are especially intense and passionate soccer fans who express their fervent support through the use of chants, flags, and pyrotechnics. At our match, the ultras constantly shouted chants that supported Fiorentina, attacked Udinese, and lambasted the referees whenever they made a decision that went against La Viola. They also waved giant flags and set off purple smoke bombs as massive demonstrations of support for Fiorentina. This non-stop activity peaked during Fiorentina’s goals, both of which led to wild celebrations from fans all throughout the stadium. The passion and intensity of these fans, coupled with their powerful use of flags, chants, and pyrotechnics, was unlike anything I had ever seen at an American sporting event. The devotion of La Viola’s fan base made me realize the intense importance that this team holds for many citizens of Florence. For many people, their allegiance to Fiorentina is an integral part of their Florentine identity, and this powerful link between club and community was a truly incredible thing to witness. (Submitted on January 20, 2024)