The former coach entered the arena after refusing journalist Sofía Martínez to enter the dressing room during the duel to pay tribute to Juan Román Riquelme. The ex-DT doesn’t like pre-game visits which he was very clear about when he was a coach. Even the pontiff, in his time as bishop of Buenos Aires, was not spared by this attitude.
Alfio Basile has proven to be someone who strictly adheres to the unwritten codes of football. One of them is that people outside the team and the coaching staff do not enter the locker room. This was demonstrated last weekend, when he sought to bring journalist Sofía Martínez out of La Bombonera’s dressing room. It didn’t matter to the ex-technician that it was a friendly meeting and a tribute. No one is spared by the attitude of the former Boca Juniors coach. Not even Pope Francis, who experienced a similar event in the late 90s.
The pontiff is an acknowledged fan of San Lorenzo de Almagro. This fanaticism for the Cyclone goes back to his childhood. He said that at the age of 10 he was amazed by the 1946 team and since then he has supported them in all competitions. In fact, it’s not just an attitude, his fans show it with facts. He is a member of the institution that won the Copa Libertadores in 2014. That’s why, when I lived in Argentina, I attended Ravens’ home games. A custom he did not abandon even when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In fact, when he held this position, the curious moment that involved Basil happened.
San Lorenzo was not in the Clausura 1998. So after the resignation of Jorge Castelli the board convinced Coco to take charge of the team. His spell on the Barca bench started on March 13. Just two weeks ago Jorge Mario Bergoglio he had taken charge of the archdiocese of the Trans-Andean capital. In this state he came to the game against Platense. Before the duel, the bishop went to visit the footballers. However, he was met with the refusal of his new coach.
“It was the beginning. I had made the last harangue. “Today we have to win and go over because we are superior”, I don’t remember who the captain was, but he was in the middle and he lifted his teammates. At that moment, a priest enters and stands at the door of the locker room,” Basil began, telling TV Pública in 2014.
“Next to me was Fernando Miele (president of San Lorenzo) and I asked him who he was. He replied that he always came. He greeted the players before the match. I asked him to take it off. “Throw him out now!” I don’t want to see any priests in the locker room. I didn’t want anyone distracting me guys. There goes Miele and he asked him to leave, ”completes the former coach.
One of the curiosities of the case is that Basil did not realize that the bishop who was forbidden to enter was the current highest pontiff until he was told. “In April 2013, I met Biele and he said to me: ‘Have you seen who the Pope is?’ Of course, I replied, it was coming out everywhere, silly, how I wouldn’t know. And he said to me, ‘You don’t know. He’s the one you kicked out of the locker room. Now he is pope. An incredible thing” ends.
San Lorenzo beat Platense 4-1 that day. Alfio Basile’s team finished fifth in this competition and, with the famous coach on the bench, the current pope could no longer enter the lodge of the Cyclone. “I don’t let anyone in, except on match day” repeatedly stated.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
