Italian Football Reporter Defends Juventus Manager After On-Air Kiss Incident
An Italian football reporter has publicly defended Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti after he kissed her live on air during a post-match interview. The incident occurred following Juventus's 2-2 draw with Lazio in Serie A, sparking mixed reactions across social media and sports commentary circles.
The Controversial Moment During Live Broadcast
Federica Zille, a 35-year-old pitchside reporter for sports streaming service DAZN, was interviewing 66-year-old veteran coach Luciano Spalletti about controversial moments in the match. During his response, Spalletti leaned toward Zille and kissed her on the shoulder while making a point about physical contact in football.
The Juventus manager was arguing that contact between players in the penalty area is normal and not every instance should be penalized. To illustrate his point, he stated, "The rules are too rigid right now. If nobody even realizes it hit a hand, who is damaged by that? The analysts keep saying 'there was contact,' but that doesn't mean anything, does it? May I kiss you, here, this is contact," before giving Zille a peck on the shoulder.
The moment drew amusement from the television studio panel but later generated significant online discussion, with some viewers questioning the appropriateness of Spalletti's actions.
Reporter's Firm Defense Against Harassment Claims
Federica Zille has since addressed the incident directly, shutting down suggestions that Spalletti behaved inappropriately or that the kiss constituted harassment. Speaking on Fantacalcio TV, the reporter provided context for the manager's actions and defended his character.
"There was no malice in Spalletti's gesture," Zille explained. "He wanted to illustrate what he was saying, which is that there's a difference between contact and a foul. I know Spalletti, and many say, 'Hey, he wouldn't have allowed himself to do that to a man.' No, he would have elbowed a man to show that it was a foul, not just contact."
The reporter expressed concern about how the situation was being interpreted by some observers. "I wouldn't want anyone to read this situation as malice or disrespectful, either to me as a woman or as a journalist, or as a professional," she stated.
Zille specifically addressed comments that used the term "harassment" to describe the incident. "I've read comments where the word 'harassment' has even been used. I found it truly exaggerated, if not downright incorrect, to use the word 'harassment' in these cases, because harassment is a serious matter. And as a woman, I feel strongly about this issue, but even more so, in this case, we need to be clear-headed and give it the weight it deserves."
Spalletti's Coaching Philosophy and Career Context
Luciano Spalletti continued his answer during the live broadcast, elaborating on his perspective about contact in football. "It's about context, contact is not the same thing as impact. There will always be difficulty if there are rules where every touch of the hand is a penalty, every step on foot is a penalty. This is what VAR is for, you can evaluate the context in its totality," the manager explained.
Spalletti is one of Italy's most decorated football managers, known for his emotive and passionate communication style. His career achievements include:
- Leading Napoli to the Serie A title (Scudetto) in the 2022-23 season
- Winning two Italian Cup trophies with AS Roma
- Securing two domestic titles with Zenit St. Petersburg during his tenure in Russia
The veteran coach took charge at Juventus earlier this season following the dismissal of Igor Tudor. Under his leadership, Juventus currently occupies fourth position in Serie A after Sunday's draw with Lazio.
Professional Relationship and Social Media Presence
Federica Zille maintains an active professional relationship with Spalletti, having interviewed him on multiple occasions. Just last year, she shared post-game photographs from interviewing the manager during the Turin derby, indicating an established working rapport between the two.
The reporter regularly updates her 70,000 Instagram followers with content from both her professional assignments and personal life. Her defense of Spalletti appears rooted in their professional familiarity and her understanding of his demonstrative coaching style.
The incident highlights ongoing conversations about appropriate conduct in sports media environments while demonstrating how context and professional relationships can influence perceptions of physical interactions during live broadcasts.
