Fiorentina President, Rocco Commisso, lost his cool with West Ham players following his team’s UEFA Conference League final defeat to the Premier League side.
“I spoke to the president of the Premier League, those of West Ham are animals in the way they treated ours. It’s not right,” Commisso said.
Jarrod Bowen hit the winner as West Ham United ran out with a 2-1 win to clinch their first European trophy in decades.
It was a feisty and spirited clash between the two teams as they locked horns at Eden Arena.
The first half saw both sides settle for a barren draw after a heated contest but the tie was broken on the 62nd minute. Benrahma converted a spot-kick to give West Ham the lead but the lead was shortlived as Benaventura restored parity just five minutes later.
Against the run of play, Jarrod Bowen scored a stoppage-time winner to restore West Ham’s lead as the Premier League side ended their decades wait for a European trophy.
After the game, Fiorentina President, Rocco Commisso, was furious over the match outcome pointing accusing fingers in the referee and the animalistic style of play by West Ham players.
Commisso said there were points in the game where the referee influenced the game to the disadvantage of his club. He also berated West Ham players for their more aggressive and physical style of play that left some Fiorentina’s players with injuries.
“But there have been episodes on the pitch where the referee had to make the difference.
“I spoke to the president of the Premier League, those of West Ham are animals in the way they treated ours. It’s not right.”
Another Fiorentina player, Luca Jovic was subbed off in the second half due to a broken nose he suffered during the game.
Fiorentina later issued a statement condemning the attack on Biraghi while Commisso blasted West Ham players for a violent and agressive play.
Before the game, West Ham and Fiorentina fans clashed and engaged each other in a violent brawl that left scores injured.
Czech Republic riot police had to intervene, wading into the fight by the rival groups with teargas to disperse them and restore order.
Fiorentina fans were blamed for the pregame melee as they reportedly started the fight by attacking West Ham fans with weapons at a bar in the city center
About 22 suspects connected to the incident were arrested by the Police.
It is believed the pregame hostilities between the fans must have spilled into the on-field agressive play, including the hostile reaction of West Ham fans to Fiorentina players.
Who is Rocco Commisso?
Rocco Commisso is the owner of Serie A club, Fiorentina. He is an Italian-American and a Columbia University graduate.
Rocco is a business man with interests in media and football. Apart from his investment in football, Rocuzzo is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of one of the largest TV networks in America, Mediacom.
He is also the owner of New York Cosmas, an American professional football club, playing in the third tier of American football league.
Commisso became the owner of New York Cosmas in 2017 after he purchased majority shares in the club to emerge as the club’s Chairman.
Tow years later, he moved his investment in football into the shores of Europe, purchasing Serie A side ACF Fiorentina in 2019 to become the club’s new owner.
He was born on November 25, 1949 in Italy but was raised in United States where he ventured into football during his college years but has never played professionally as a footballer.
