The Italian fencing federation have vowed to file an official complaint after Filippo Macchi lost out on a gold medal to Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka Long at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In response to the drama, fans began trolling the Italian athlete on social media with comments about putting pineapple on pizza, a notorious faux pas in the European nation.
‘I like pineapple pizza and pasta with soy sauce,’ one of Cheung’s Instagram followers wrote under his recent snap, as countless others echoed the sentiment.
Pizza Hut’s Hong Kong and Macao branch even took a savage dig at Italy, offering customers free pineapple toppings in the wake of Cheung’s gold medal.
‘All Hong Kong people are very happy and excited today!’ the store wrote in a Facebook post announcing the offer earlier this week.
Italy’s Filippo Macchi lost out on a gold medal to Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka Long in Paris
Pizza Hut Hong Kong took a dig at Italy by offering customers free pineapple toppings
Italy boasts the most Olympic fencing medals of any nation, and were left unhappy with the result of the men’s foil match.
Controversy surrounded the final point, which was awarded after referees reviewed the footage three times.
‘It’s insane for me because I try hard every day to fight, to come to Paris, to France, to qualify for the Olympics,’ Cheung said after taking the victory, 15-14, per the New York Times.
He is now the first athlete from Hong Kong to win two Olympic gold medals.
Meanwhile, the Italian Fencing Federation said it a statement it would file a complaint over ‘unacceptable refereeing.’
Cheung won the men’s foil match 15-14, becoming the nation’s first repeat gold medal winner
‘I try hard every day to fight, to come to Paris, to France, to qualify for the Olympics,’ he said
‘Filippo Macchi is the real winner,’ Paolo Azzi, the federation’s president, wrote on social media.
‘He was denied the gold he deserved,’ Azzi went on.
Macchi, however, said he did not want to blame the referees.
‘A long time ago, a person dear to me, as well as a great champion, told me: ‘You always celebrate a medal!’ he wrote on social media.
‘And indeed this medal deserves joy and happiness,’ he added.
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