December 14, 2012 6:19 pm
Man with no crowd
The epic adventure of a lone football fan in Italy
Supporters of Liverpool football club like to sing that they will never walk alone. But not all fans can say the same. This week, Arrigo Brovedani, a 37-year-old follower of Udinese, a team from northeastern Italy, became a media sensation for being the only supporter to turn up to an away game against Sampdoria in Serie A, Italy’s top division. Udinese, Mr Brovedani explained, barely attracts more than about 50 supporters when they play away from home. The weather was rather chilly; the game was played on a Monday.
Mr Brovedani’s solitary vigil on the terraces, while rare, is not unique. Just two months ago, another lone Italian fan, Corrado Nastasio, travelled 1,000km to watch his team, Livorno, play. A decade or so ago, when the Belgian football squad toured Japan and South Korea, their following consisted of just one aficionado.
Mr Brovedani’s act of loyalty has been celebrated both at home and abroad. Sampdoria gave him one of their club shirts, and Udinese officials invited him to the next home match. The BBC has now asked him to a Premier League match.
Yet uncomfortable questions linger behind the lionisation. Where were all the other fans? The sad truth is that, when compared with the comfort of watching footie on telly, being an away fan is not much fun. One travels far, often to see one’s side lose. In many countries, including Italy, away supporters are closely followed by the police, often making their experience less than pleasant.
Football clubs may not care much about the disappearance of away fans. After all, hefty TV revenues more than make up for the lost ticket sales. But without a lively crowd in the stadium, people at home are less likely to tune in. The unique atmosphere of the game depends as much on the crowds as the stars on the pitch.
Football lovers should celebrate the likes of Mr Brovedani. But they should also hope they remain exceptions, just like an away win.