Prominent Author Joins Torino fans in Protest Against Club President Cairo
Turin, Italy – Celebrated Italian author Alessandro Baricco, a lifelong supporter of Torino Football Club, publicly joined fans in a exhibition against club president Urbano Cairo on Sunday, intensifying pressure on the owner amid growing discontent over the team’s performance adn financial management. Baricco posted a photo to social media showing him participating in a fan procession, displaying a flag bearing the slogan “Cairo Vattene” – “Cairo, Leave” – which has become a rallying cry for supporters.
The demonstration took place before Torino’s 3-0 loss to Atalanta, with fans voicing their frustration not only with disappointing results on the pitch but also with what they perceive as Cairo’s prioritizing of financial stability over investment in the team. Baricco’s visible support adds a important voice to the growing chorus of criticism directed at Cairo, who also owns Italy’s leading newspapers Corriere della Sera and gazzetta dello Sport.
Notably, coverage of the protest – and the broader “Torino crisis” – has been largely absent from Cairo’s media holdings. According to reporting from Il Post, the newspapers often avoid critical coverage of the club, instead presenting an overly optimistic portrayal of the team’s situation. This pattern has fueled accusations of a conflict of interest and a intentional attempt to control the narrative surrounding Torino’s struggles.
This isn’t an isolated incident; reports indicate a consistent pattern of downplaying the club’s difficulties within Cairo’s media empire, despite mounting fan dissatisfaction. The situation highlights the complex relationship between ownership, media influence, and public perception in Italian football.
– Read also: The crisis of Turin, Urban Cairo and his newspapers
