Fiorentina and Torino's Gemellagio
- Cody
- Mar 18, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: May 17, 2018
Italian football supporters are used to making friends and enemies. Friendships and rivalries between sets of ultras remain a fundamental part of Italian football culture. Of the former, the term gemellaggio refers to a twinning between two sets of supporters, a recognized and mutual friendship. And, of course, one of the easiest ways for two parties to like each other is if they both dislike someone else. As the old proverb goes, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” And though Torino and Fiorentina both share a deep hatred of Juventus, their gemellaggio started for a much different, much more meaningful reason.
Perhaps the defining moment of Torino’s history was Superga, the plane crash in which the greatest team of their age, il Grande Torino, all died. Upon returning from a match against Benfica, the team’s plane crashed into the hills surrounding Turin due to the inclement weather on that tragic night. The generally accepted story is that Fiorentina were one of the first and greatest supporters of il Toro after the tragedy. La Viola sent several youth players to help Torino make up a team after they were left with nothing. The gesture created a bond which has grown stronger through the years.
And yet it would be wrong to suggest that their shared anti-Juve sentiment does not strengthen their gemellaggio. Torino are Juventus’ city rivals and considered themselves the team of the city, while Juve can be seen as the team of Italy. Though the Derby Della Molle remains one of the most passionate in the country, it is perhaps more strongly felt on the granata side of the city. While the derby stands as the match of the season for il Toro, Juventus generally have greater objectives in their sights. That’s not to say that Juve, and especially their ultras, don’t care about the derby, but Inter would most likely be considered their bitterest rival.
Likewise, Fiorentina harbor a bitter, eternal dislike for Juventus. A complex history of perceived robberies at the hands of match officials, such as Juventus winning the ‘82 scudetto, and the sales of Fiorentina greats Roberto Baggio and, more recently, Federico Bernardeschi have only increased the Viola supporters hate for the bianconeri. Juve, considered the club of the nation, clash perfectly with a club like Fiorentina, who are quintessentially provincial. And, like Torino, the Fiorentini probably feel the rivalry more than the Juventini. In this regard, Torino and Fiorentina share a common rival, albeit a rival that always seems to have some greater opponent or challenge to think about.
Occasionally and depending on the circumstances, fans will actually cheer against their own team in favor of their club’s twin, a rare but not unheard of sight in Serie A. One example came at the 2014 season, with Torino chasing a European place and with Fiorentina with little to play for. The Viola supporters, recognizing the match’s importance for their Toro brothers, cheered Torino’s goals and jeered their own. Similar types of matches and friendships can be seen with Lazio - Inter and Napoli - Genoa, the latter of whom, like Torino and Fiorentina, play each other today.
As to be expected, the friendship is felt strongest amongst the ultras. It’s common for visiting fans of Fiorentina or Torino to stand mixed with their counterparts on the home curva. La Viola and il Granata often meet and enjoy the pre-match festivities together outside of the stadium. And throughout the cities of Turin and Florence, supporters show hospitality. As one Torino supporter mentions of their recent trip to Firenze while wearing a Torino shirt, “[I received] pats on the back and 'Forza Toro.' The owner of the restaurant where I had lunch even made me skip the queue. ‘Find a place for the granata brother.’” Gemellaggio well-established, Torino and Fiorentina supporters are happy to save a place at the table and in the terraces for their friends.
Where: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
When: 15:00 local time
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