Frustrating times for football fans in Messina
By Anthony Barbagallo
Messina, Sicily. In a city situated between the Madonna della Lettera monument in a port and the picturesque views of Calabria in the distance (also known as the Strait of Messina) lie passionate and vibrant locals who constantly breathe Calcio.
Messina is a Sicilian city and Province that boasts a rich football history. ACR Messina has experienced Serie A joy in the 1960s and early 2000s, with multiple club bankruptcies along the journey. Calcio in this Sicilian city is complex.
Since 1900, there have been around seven bankruptcies, name changes and logo alterations for ACR Messina. For the fans of ACR Messina, there has hardly been a period of stabilisation with their club. The emotional rollercoaster ride over the last 120 years for many generations of Messina fans continues today.
Messinese experiencing more pain than elation with their beloved ACR Messina has created division among the fan groups and local football figures. The creation of S.S.D. Città di Messina - formerly known as U.S.D. Camaro Messina - is a fine example of the football divide in Messina. Now named S.S.D. FC Messina, some locals began to support this second Messina side two years ago after losing their patience with an unorganised ACR Messina in Serie D. FC Messina offered to be an alternative club in the city that could provide new hope and an ambitious project under the owner, Rocco Arena.
But despite ACR Messina pulling off an incredible promotion to Serie C last season, the Biancoscudati’s transition back to the professional third division has been a struggle. And from FC Messina finishing runners-up last season in Serie D’s Group I, the Giallorossi are now tied up in a relegation fight in this current campaign.
ACR Messina
After enduring four seasons of embarrassment in Serie D, ACR Messina finally returned to Serie C following their promotion. However, their comeback to professional status has been anything but impressive. For what was supposed to be an optimistic moment for the Biancoscudati fans, this season has so far left a bitter taste in the mouths of many ACR Messina supporters.
Despite signing some talented players in the summer transfer market, ACR Messina has lacked identity in most of their 2021-22 performances. The club boasts individual attacking and midfield talent like Andrea Adorante, Ibourahima Baldé, Filippo Damian and Lorenzo Simonetti. However, there currently seems to be a lack of team cohesion.
ACR Messina’s overall structure and formation balance have left them in a tough predicament in Serie C with no real team identity. As a result, the eastern Sicilian side finds itself towards the bottom of the table, sitting in 17th spot with two wins after 11 rounds. The Biancoscudati may possess some firepower up front, but their defence is the worst in Group C.
A change of coach between the 11 games hasn’t helped the team’s consistency. And after recording a 3-2 victory over Potenza on matchday nine, when coach Ezio Capuano stepped in, ACR Messina fans still had some hope reserved. But after the 1962–63 Serie B champions recorded a disappointing scoreless draw with bottom side Vibonese last week and a 1-0 loss against Juve Stabia on matchday 11, ACR Messina fans vented their frustrations on social media.
Two wins, three draws and six losses from 11 league games have taken a toll on the Biancoscudati faithful - draining any last ounce of patience the fans contained. And with ACR Messina’s schedule not getting any easier with Campobasso, Catanzaro and Avellino starring down, the Sicilian side is under the pump. All the ACR Messina fans want is the club to stabilise in Serie C and owner Pietro Sciotto to outline a plan to go back into Serie B. The last thing Biancoscudati fans need is for their side to plummet into Serie D semi-professional Calcio again.
FC Messina
For FC Messina, this season in Serie D’s Group I has been a real struggle compared to the last couple of campaigns. Nevertheless, this alternative Messina side, newly-formed by Rocco Arena in 2019, has been an ambitious project from day one. With a nostalgic logo, FC Messina was supposed to offer light for the Messinese in response to ACR Messina’s complacency two years ago.
FC Messina looked to be heading down the right path with its plans to restore the Stadio Giovanni Celeste, launch unique matchday kits, and run with an efficient club media organisation. The Giallorossi even constructed an incredible team back in 2019, with playmaker Facundo Coria and striker Paolo Carbonaro joining the new Messina side. After a fourth-place finish in the 2019-2020 season before the COVID-19 suspension, FC Messina tweaked their strong team last campaign by adding creative playmaker Francesco Lodi.
The Giallorossi pushed their city rivals, ACR Messina, to the final matchday last season. FC Messina might have narrowly missed out on Serie C promotion through their second-placed finish and their unsuccessful repechage attempt, although it did seem that this club was in a prime position to contest for promotion in the 2021-22 season. So far, Rocco Arena’s side has been a massive disappointment in this season’s Serie D campaign.
It seems that FC Messina is currently operating on a tight-rope budget this time around - cutting ties with technical sponsor Zeus and mainly fielding youth. The current instabilities off the field are affecting this inexperienced team’s performances, hence why its left numerous FC Messina supporters in limbo. This Messina side has significant flaws in the attack and defence, nothing compared to the strong performances in the past two seasons.
As a result, FC Messina currently sits in 16th in the play-out zone, a massive downgrade compared to the last two seasons. The Giallorossi have also been victims of heavy defeats to Cittanova and Gelbison in recent rounds. But the overall picture for the Sicilian Giallorossi looks grim - appearing that this new Messina side might only have a short history. Once again, it’s another fatal blow to some of the Messinese football fans.
Unless both ACR Messina and FC Messina add some reinforcements in the next transfer window and find some winning consistency, these two sides might face the genuine prospect of suffering relegation from their respective divisions.