TURIN, Italy (AP) — Juventus has strongly criticized its own supporters who disturbed a minute’s silence in honor of former Italy and Inter Milan star Sandro Mazzola.
The tribute was being held at all Serie A matches over the weekend after Mazzola, widely considered one of Italy’s greatest ever players, died on Friday. He was 83.
The minute’s silence was interrupted in Turin, ahead of Sunday’s match against Atalanta, as a section of Juventus fans turned their backs on the field and chanted songs about their own club legends instead. Inter and Juventus are fierce rivals.
The chants were drowned out by applause from other supporters in the stadium — both home and away fans.
“No rivalry can justify a lack of respect during a minute’s silence,” Juventus said in a statement.
“Honoring the memory of those being remembered and coming together in remembrance during moments of commemoration is a shared responsibility that transcends allegiances and colors.”
Juventus could risk a fine or even having the Curva Sud — the sector where the ultras sit and where the disturbance happened — closed for a match. A decision by Italy's sporting justice system is expected early this week.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
A portrait of late Sandro Mazzola is displayed moment of silence before the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Lecce, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lisa Leslie left her mark on the Los Angeles Sparks franchise as one of the top players in its history.
The organization honored her Sunday with a bronze statue outside the arena, immortalizing the WNBA great.
She became the 16th person honored with a statue in Star Plaza in a ceremony that featured Magic Johnson, Candace Parker and Michael Cooper and others.
“I am beyond happy with how beautiful The First Lady looks because they listened to me,” the three-time MVP said. “She has her lipstick on, she has on earrings, she has my family’s names on my bracelets, which probably people can’t see because she’s so big. It’s gorgeous, and I just love that she has her ponytail, and when little girls walk around and get a chance to see it, they see a woman, The First Lady statue out there. That just means so much to me.”
Leslie, who starred for the Sparks from 1997-2009, is the first Sparks player to be honored with a statue. The 11-foot statue with a 4 1/2 foot base depicts Leslie's signature dunk that was the first in WNBA history.
“First of all, she’s cute,” Leslie said of the statue when it was unveiled. “I was so worried. I did not want to look like a linebacker up here. But she’s cute. I wanted to make sure that this statue was a perfect blend of fearlessness and the competitor that I was and I am and I’ll always be. But also ... I wore my ribbons, I had my nails polished, which y’all can’t see, but the girl got her polish on because I never wanted the boys or the men to think that I was a boy."
Leslie helped the Sparks win consecutive titles in 2001 and 2002.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
FILE - Former WNBA player Lisa Leslie arrives at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater, July 13, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
