The ultras see clubs enriching players and officials while hiking ticket prices. They see clubs negotiating huge sponsorship deals and refusing to subsidise away travel. They see clubs selling iconic players despite furious protests. They see betrayal. Throughout Serie A the theme recurs.
Fans are the keepers of the flame, defenders of the faith.
It is their duty to safeguard the club's integrity, with violence if necessary. The next few weeks will decide who wins the title. But in many ways it doesn't matter who wins. No amount of passion and skill can cover the fact that this season everybody has lost. Atalanta A riot breaks out at Piacenza train station.