After a 2-2 draw, Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti insisted that “contact is not the same as a foul” while addressing refereeing disputes, and kissed the female journalist interviewing him as an illustration. The gesture sparked controversy on social media. The journalist involved, Federica Zille, responded on a show, saying Spalletti had no ill intent and that calling it harassment was inappropriate.
Federica Zille said: “There was no malice in Spalletti’s action. He only wanted to explain the difference between contact and a foul. I know Spalletti. Many people say: ‘He wouldn’t have done it if it were a male journalist.’ No — if it were a male journalist, he might have used an ‘elbow gesture’ to show what a foul is, as opposed to just contact.”
“I do not want this to be interpreted as malice or disrespect toward me, either as a woman, a journalist or a professional. I have seen comments that even use the word ‘harassment’, and I think that is excessive and inappropriate here, because harassment is a serious issue. As a woman, I am particularly sensitive to this matter. That is why we should view this more calmly and judge it properly.”
