Mazzone to Blame for Death of Former Players?
By: Martha | December 12th, 2007
Carlo Mazzone, the man who has coached more matches in Italy than anyone else, is under investigation for the death of his former player Bruno Beatrice. Beatrice died of leukemia when he was 39, almost exactly 20 years ago, and it’s suspected by some that he developed the disease as a result of treatment he received while playing for Mazzone at Fiorentina. Specifically, he was given “weeks of X-ray therapy” for a sports hernia, and was also given drugs that were later revealed, according to his wife, to be anabolic steroids; an investigation was initiated at her request after his death and then reopened in 2005, but it has only just now reached Mazzone, who is being interviewed later this week.
Beatrice’s wife and daughter have started an organization to support the “families of victims of doping,” and they’re convinced that not only Beatrice, but also former teammates Nello Saltutti, Ugo Ferrante and Giuseppe Longoni had their lives significantly shortened by the treatments they underwent with the Viola, while other teammates Mimmo Caso, Massimo Mattolini and Giancarlo De Sisti have all faced and beaten serious health problems. All seven men played for Fiorentina between 1975 and 1978 when Mazzone was in charge, but he’s told the press he had nothing to do with what went on off the pitch, and has no worries ahead of his interview, despite possible manslaughter charges.
Christ almighty. Beatrice’s death has long been a symbol for those who feel Italian players were horribly mistreated and taken advantage of during the 1960s and 1970s, but the possibility of holding coaches legally responsible for their subsequent health problems is a new one, as far as I know, not to mention something which will surely be nearly impossible to prove. It would certainly set a precedent, though, either, depending on your perspective, for justice to be done, or witch-hunts to begin in earnest.
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Oh my god.
Posted from
India
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My question in all of this is whether the players in Italy have a union or not? Do you have any info on this Martha?
Posted from
United States -
I think there is a PFA-type group, Tim, I remember it being discussed in the comments sometime when Totti was angry about something. I’ve no idea how powerful it is, though, or what role it really plays. I’ll have a quick look later and see if I can find anything, too.
Posted from
United States -
It’s just chilling, isn’t it roswitha? These guys had no idea what was going into the bodies, and one gets the impression the teams didn’t much care to find out what damage they might do, as long as they were helpful in the short-term. I really don’t know much about it, but John Foot’s Calcio touches on the issue and that little bit alone is horrifying.
Posted from
United States
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