Milano Hockey Club and HCB Alto Adige Alperia firmly condemn the incidents that occurred at the end of the game played on Sunday, October 11 at the Fiera Ice Arena in Rho.
Such behaviour is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of sport, nor the passion and respect that characterise the vast majority of both teams’ supporters.
The Milano–Bolzano matchup, back after almost fourteen years, delivered an extraordinary night of hockey in front of 4,000 spectators, in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and engagement that deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
The two clubs jointly reaffirm that the rivalry must remain purely sporting, and that there can be no room for violent or disrespectful behaviour, inside or outside the venues.
Milano Hockey Club and HCB Alto Adige Alperia will continue to promote a fan culture built on passion, mutual respect and the shared values of hockey.
Statement from Milano HC President, Christof Leitner:
I do not want to fuel this discussion any further, nor do I want to sweep these incidents under the rug.
We are fully aware that the behavior of a small number of so-called “fans” is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
We carefully planned and implemented all security measures inside the arena, and no incidents or problems were reported within the venue itself.
Unfortunately, the incidents in question occurred outside the arena, on the public roads surrounding the exhibition grounds. The individuals responsible have been identified, formal complaints have been filed with the authorities, and those involved have been banned from the arena.
Although we have only just completed our second home game, we take these incidents extremely seriously. We are committed to doing everything within our power to ensure the safety of our spectators, players, and everyone involved.
We have a clear zero-tolerance policy towards violence, intimidation, and any form of unacceptable behavior.
Our goal is to create a positive, safe, and respectful environment where everyone can come together and enjoy their passion for ice hockey.
