Gattuso told reporters on Tuesday: “We have no choice but to play the match, otherwise we will lose 3-0. What is happening to the innocent and children in Gaza pains me greatly,” according to Western media sources.
He pointed out that Europe recently witnessed the largest protests against the Israeli military operations in Gaza, which began following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.
The Italian national team is preparing to face Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday, but the match is gaining attention after a wave of pro-Palestinian protests swept through Italy last week.
Florence witnessed demonstrations on Friday in front of the national training center demanding the cancellation of the match, with similar protests expected in Udine.
As calls to exclude Israel from international sports competitions due to the destruction in Gaza escalate, ticket sales for Tuesday’s match are declining, with expectations of a low turnout at the Blue Energy Stadium, which will see heightened security measures.
Since October 7, 2023, until now, the war has resulted in the death of more than 67,000 Palestinians, in addition to over 169,000 injuries, according to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.
