JUVENTUS GOALKEEPER Gianluigi Buffon has hit out at insulting graffiti which appeared close to the location of a plane crash which took the lives of an iconic Torino team in 1949.
Walls on the road leading to the Superga site were defaced ahead of the 68th anniversary of the disaster on 4 May.
Buffon has been left appalled by the actions of a minority and has called on the Juve faithful to show their true colours in a Turin derby date on Saturday.
He posted on his Facebook account: “In a beautiful day after our victory [over Monaco], my thoughts go to our cousins of Toro and their fans and those glorious players who made a whole nation and the Granata people proud,” Buffon wrote.
“Honour to the great champions of Grande Torino and pardon to those who taint themselves with unjustifiable acts, such as deriding or disrespecting you, even today, 70 years on.
“The dead are dead and they do not disturb anybody. They are to be left in peace and be respected, even if they are the fiercest of enemies or rivals one can have. Because the dead have wives, children, grandchildren and to cause them further atrocious sufferance, in addition to what they have already been through, is inhumane.
“Viva rivality, viva banter, viva local rivalry, viva sportiveness, viva life with all its rich sentiments, some noble ones and others maybe a little less. But when undignified and inopportune banners are written, probably without full consideration, you are deader than the dead.
“It disgusts and angers me to hear, even today, our 39 angels from Heysel being tortured: let’s not taint ourselves by committing the same crimes. We are humans. We must distinguish ourselves if we want to spread something lasting and constructive for a humanity which is struggling along.
“Let’s not settle for being mediocre and vile just to make up for received impoliteness. Fans of Juve, I am sending this message to you because I know that I have the right to do this after all that we have shared together.
“Fans of Juve, make me truly proud of you because if we truly think and believe that the Juve style is represented and indicated by the worthy and absolute values that characterise us, it is inconceivable to desecrate and violate the sensitivity of those who have suffered and keep on suffering: let’s not befoul affection, feelings and memories.
“A hug to those who believe that, also and especially in sport, it is necessary to be people of good will. Now, tomorrow, always and forever #FinoAllaFine!!!”
Claudio Marchisio has also paid tribute to the 31 people who lost their lives on that fateful night in Turin, writing on his Facebook page: “Sixty-eight years have passed, but in all of us in the word of sport, and not only, their memory is indelible. Grande Torino Football Club.”
Juventus can wrap up the Serie A title this weekend if results go their way.
Victory over Torino would send them 12 points clear at the summit, with Roma then forced to offer a response in their meeting with Milan on Sunday in order to remain in contention with three games remaining.
