Bruno Pizzul, an icon of Italian
sports journalism, died on Wednesday morning at Gorizia's
hospital aged 86.
He was born in Udine on March 8 1938.
A former soccer player whose career ended prematurely due to
injury, Pizzul, who had a law degree, started working for State
broadcaster RAI in 1969.
He became famous as a broacaster and analyst of Italian national
football matches until 2002 and then he continued to work as an
analyst on television and, over the past few years, as a writer
for local Friuli daily Messaggero Veneto.
In particular, Pizzul was the voice that commented on the
incredible nights of the 1990 World Cup.
Overall, for 16 years, from 1986 until 2002, he was RAI's
broadcaster for Italy's games, including five World Cups.
The last game he hosted was between Italy and Slovenia on August
21 2002.
He also reported on the catastrophe at Heysel Stadium in
Brussels, Belgium, on 29 May 1985 in which 39 people died and
600 others were injured when fans were crushed against a wall
that then collapsed during the European Cup final between
Liverpool and Juventus.
A presenter of key programs Domenica Spring and Domenica
sportiva, he would have turned 87 on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Premier Giorgia Meloni paid homage to the
broadcaster saying he had given his voice "to the magic nights"
of Italian soccer, "accompanying millions of Italians with
knowledge and passion, a great companion of adventures.
"You were the historic voice of Italian soccer, an everlasting
icon of sports journalism who will remain in the history of
sport and in all our hearts forever", said Meloni.
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