By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Football Legend's Home Invaded by Armed Assailants
Former Juventus and AC Milan footballer Roberto Baggio has been injured in an armed robbery at his home in northern Italy. The incident occurred at 22:00 local time (21:00 BST) when at least five individuals broke into the 57 year old's villa in Altavilla Vicentina, according to local media reports.
The veteran footballer was taken to an emergency room in Arzignano and treated with stitches to his forehead after being struck by a burglar wielding a gun. In his first public address since the incident, Baggio expressed gratitude to well wishers, stating, "Now all that remains is to overcome the fear." He added, "Fortunately, the violence I suffered only caused a few stitches, bruises, and a lot of fear."
Corriere della Sera reported that the violent incident took place while Baggio and his family were watching Italy play Spain in the European Championships. Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, expressed support for Baggio, saying all Venetians hope he can recover "from this bad evening." He described Baggio as the "symbolic champion of our football and our region." Zaia condemned the incident unequivocally, stating he hopes "the bandits will soon be brought to justice."
The incident reportedly lasted for roughly 40 minutes. Baggio attempted to stop the burglars, but one of the thieves struck him on the forehead with a gun, as reported by AFP news agency. Shortly thereafter, Baggio and his family were locked in a room while the intruders ransacked the house searching for valuables. It remains unclear how much was stolen during the robbery.
Although shaken by the incident, Baggio's family was not injured. Once he felt it was safe, Baggio broke down the door of the room they were locked in and contacted the police. Italian media reported that police have obtained CCTV footage of the incident and are currently investigating.
Known as "Divin Codino" (the divine ponytail) during his time as a star for the national team, Baggio led Italy to a World Cup final in the US in 1994. However, he missed the decisive penalty in the shootout, granting Brazil their fourth World Cup victory. Baggio went on to play for both AC Milan and Inter Milan before retiring in 2004. He remains the only Italian to score in three World Cups and is the joint top goal scorer for Italy in the competition.