Ban for 13-year-old goalkeeper in violent attack by 40-year-old opposition parent

In an unexpected twist, the 13-year-old goalkeeper who was physically attacked by the parent of an opponent has himself been suspended for one year over the brawl.

Messages of solidarity have been pouring in from all over Italian football for 13-year-old Thomas Sarritzu, who was put in hospital when punched by the 40-year-old father of an opposition player during an Under-14s match.

They included Italy and new Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, icon Gianluigi Buffon, and today Roma’s Mile Svilar too.

The Volpiano Pianese teenager was left with a fractured malleolus bone and neck trauma, along with several bruises.

Teenage goalkeeper with insult added to injury

However, Sarritzu has himself been suspended for one year along with the goalkeeper of opposition team Carmagnola Queencar, Cristian Barbero.

They were the ones who seemingly started the brawl by punching and slapping each other, followed by the entrance onto the pitch of Barbero’s father.

A statement from the Lega Dilettanti disciplinary commission explained the one-year bans were necessary “considering the gravity of the violent conduct from very young kids, which damage the healthy principles of sport based on fair play.”

These were imposed to “set an example” for others.

Meanwhile, Sarritzu’s father Angelo, who is also a director of the Volpiano Pianese team, was suspended until March 2026 for engaging in a brawl with the parent of the opposition goalkeeper, who ran onto the pitch to attack his son.