By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
An incident leading to the death of a bus driver shocked the basketball world.
Following a Serie A2 Old Wild West game, the second-tier division of Italy, between RSR Sebastiani Rieti and Estra Pistoia in Rieti’s PalaSojourner on Sunday, frustrated ultras of the hosts allegedly attacked a bus carrying supporters of the visitors with various items, including stones and bricks. One of the projectiles resulted in fatal injuries to the co-driver.
Local police rushed to the scene but were only able to confirm the death.
Additional details concerning the health status of Pistoia fans on the bus and potential arrests following the ambush of the fanatics at a highway are pending.
🙏 NON CI SONO PAROLE
Una tragedia dopo la partita tra #Rieti e #Pistoia in A2. Il pullman dei tifosi pistoiesi è stato bersagliato con sassi. Uno dei due autisti è stato colpito ed è deceduto.Non ci sono parole.
Un pensiero alla famiglia.
Vergogna.📸 TVL pic.twitter.com/dMMbM8uN6p
— Pianeta_Basket (@PianetaBasketIT) October 19, 2025
“There are no words to comment on what happened, an incident that can only be described in one word: criminal,” said league president Francesco Maiorana. “This is a moment of silence, and my only thoughts are with the victim and his loved ones, to whom I extend my deepest condolences. The league, alongside the Italian Basketball Federation, will monitor the investigation.”
With a win in a heated atmosphere between supporters of both sides in the venue, Pistoia matched Rieti at 4-2, one game behind the Serie A2 leaders early in the 2025-26 season.
Ranking last among 16 teams in the 2024-25 edition of the LBA UnipolSai, Pistoia was relegated after two straight years in the top-flight league. Rieti has been limited to lower divisions of Italy since a restart at the amateur level in 2010.