From Goal.com:
Conte was relaxing on a beach near his hometown of Lecce on Sunday where he took part in a five-a-side match, before a number of thugs gathered around him.
According to initial investigations by Police, the 1996 Champions League winner was punched in the face and assaulted before a number of players and witnesses jumped into the fracas to defend him.
The culprits then ran off, fearing reprisals by Conte’s defenders. It is believed the attackers armed themselves with metal poles and other weapons as they attempted to cause a riot.
Lecce fans do not like Conte because they see him as a traitor after he took on a coaching role at bitter rivals Bari.
However, this mindless behaviour shouldn’t be tolerated and it came just a day after authorities in Italy warned of a clamp down and ‘zero tolerance’ approach to violence in the game.
The police investigation into the attack is on-going and it is believed that no arrests have been made so far.
You know when people say that football is the most important thing in their lives? That’s the sort of mentality that can easily be abused and taken too far – and then you get situations like these. Very sad.
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