Do not get between Italians and their families

A look back to when Parma FC fans eschewed the middle finger and gave it the full footlong

Enrico Chiesa — Italian, 5 ft 9 in, fast, elegant, a striker with vision, a striker with technique, and a striker with a first touch to die for — played more than 500 times domestically, signing for I Blucerchiati on three separate occasions, while playing for no fewer than nine other Italian clubs.

His stint at Parma FC from 1996-99 made his name and stole his heart.

Italian football was at its peak, the best league in the world, and little-old-Parma won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup in 1998-99. Enrico also became a father to his son, Federico.

His heart would not forget Parma, and Enrico, having retired in 2009-10, became a fully fledged, match-going leader of Boys Parma. The Ultras.

Family and football. Everything.

One year later, when Serie A introduced lunchtime (12:30) kick offs at the behest of TV broadcaster money — “you can have lunch with your family or go to the football, not both” — it was Enrico who lead the backlash, marshalling the Boys Parma.

Everything came to a head against Roma one sunny Sunday in late October, their first lunchtime kick off. The revolt began.

As the teams took to the pitch, the crowd inhaled.

The crowd braced themselves.

The crowd took a deep breath.

Then, passionately, the crowd flew into their retaliation.

One by one, ultra by ultra, the entire Boys Parma unit reached into their pockets, took out a homemade sandwich, and started to eat.

Enrico Chiesa, 1990, via Football Italia:

“Seeing as this is lunchtime, especially for families who we are supposed to bring back to the stadiums, we invite all the fans to come to the Curva Nord with a sandwich,” read a statement by the Boys ultra group.

“Let us all bring a sandwich and eat it when the teams step on to the pitch. We’ll eat to show those who think the only fans are to be fleeced sitting at home on their sofas.”

Do not get between Italians and their family.