The family of a Napoli fan who
died after being shot before the Italian Cup Final last month
have appealed for calm amid fears of reprisals - even as it
emerged that the victim allegedly identified his suspected
assailant as a Roma ultra on his deathbed.
As police in the capital were on high alert and the alleged
killer was moved to a high-security jail, Ciro Esposito's family
urged his fellow fans not to take "revenge" for his death.
"In the name of the whole family, I say to everyone: enough
violence," the victim's uncle Vincenzo Esposito told ANSA.
This was despite the revelation that Esposito had
identified his killer.
On his death bed, ANSA sources said, the Napoli fan pointed
to the prime suspect for his killing, AS Roma ultra Daniele De
Santis.
"He shot me," Esposito, who died earlier on Wednesday, told
family members when shown a photo of De Santis in a newspaper,
the sources said.
Police are set to interview the family members who Esposito
was with when he fingered De Santis, a far-right extremist.
Investigators had hoped to talk to Esposito upon recovery.
Meanwhile, as Esposito's home, Naples' crime-ridden
district of Scampia, was draped in black and supporters were
reportedly growing restive, the calls for calm were reiterated.
The family again called for justice but not vendetta, and
described the victim as a civilian hero.
"No one can give us back Ciro, but in his name we ask
justice and not vendetta. We want to thank everyone who in these
50 days have demonstrated their solidarity," said the family in
a statement.
"At 6:00 this morning, after an ordeal lasting 50 days,
our Ciro passed away, a civilian hero.
"That cursed May 3, our Ciro intervened in Via Tor di
Quinto in Rome to save passengers on a bus of the families of
Napoli soccer fans. Our Ciro heard the screams of fear of
children who with together with their families wanted to watch a
soccer game.
"He died to save others. We ask the institutions to do
their part".
Esposito had been in intensive care after being shot,
allegedly by 48-year-old AS Roma fan De Santis, on May 3.
"Daniele De Santis was not alone. We want his accomplices
identified and delivered to justice. We want those to pay who
wronged managing of public order, firstly the Roman prefect that
did not protect the safety of the Neapolitan fans.
"We ask the premier to ascertain eventual political
responsibility for what happened".
Italian politicians rallied to the family's appeal, calling
for better security in sports.
"No violence in the name of Ciro," said Nunzia De
Girolamo, House whip for the New Centre Right (NCD) party, the
junior partner in Italy's left-right government.
"We should pay dignified homage to Ciro - institutions,
sports associations, political groups, fans, security forces and
civil society. Each one for their own competence must ensure
that stadiums return to being places where one goes to enjoy a
sports spectacle and not risk one's life," De Girolamo added.
"One can't die for a soccer game. It is the umpteenth
tragedy to hit sports," said Valentina Vezzali, a six-time
Olympic fencing gold medallist and MP with the centrist Civic
Choice (SC) party.
"Preventative measures and greater checks are needed,
especially at the more dangerous soccer games according to the
profile of the fans," Vezzali said.
"Urgent measures must be taken to be sure that these
tragedies never happen again".
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