Players and coaches in the top men's football league in Italy sported red marks on their faces as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the eradication of violence against women on November 25.
The initiative aligned with rallies in Italy to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Notably, on the same day, an Italian man suspected of murdering his ex-girlfriend was extradited from Germany.
The tragic killing of 22-year-old university student Giulia Cecchettin, allegedly by her former boyfriend, triggered widespread condemnation in Italy, where, on average, one woman
is killed every three days.
Players and coaches in the Serie A league had the red marks on their cheeks as part of an ongoing initiative. This campaign is set to persist during the matches scheduled for November 26 and 27. The slogan for the initiative translates to "a red card against violence."
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The reason behind Seria A players putting red marks on their faces
Serie A players have been wearing red marks on their cheeks for several seasons to support a campaign against domestic violence towards women. The goal is to raise awareness and promote a hotline for anti-stalking and anti-abuse support. The campaign is called "Un Rosso Alla Violenza," meaning "a red card to violence," and has received continuous support from Lega Serie A for many years.
While it is a significant aspect of every season, its prominence is especially notable at present due to Italy being deeply affected by the tragic murder of Giulia Cecchettin, purportedly carried out by a possessive ex-partner. This brutal incident has rekindled public discussions in Italy concerning violence against women.
Serie A Femminile players raise awareness
While the men's Serie A took a break for the World Cup, the women's Serie A Femminile continued without interruption in November 2022.
During matches, the fourth official displayed the number 1522 on the substitutes' board, serving as a helpline for victims of violence against women.
Subsequently, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) released concerning statistics, revealing that 44.1% of women had experienced physical or sexual violence in 2022. By November of the same year, Italy had already witnessed 104 cases of femicide.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
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