Former Italian footballer Roberto Baggio was injured in an armed robbery at hishome in northern Italy. The incident occurred at 22:00 local time when at least five individuals broke into the 57-year-old’s villa in Altavilla Vicentina, according to local media reports.
Baggio was taken to an emergency room in Arzignano, where he received stitches to his forehead after one of the burglars struck him with a gun. In his first public statement since the incident, Baggio expressed gratitude to his well-wishers and said, “Now all that remains is to overcome the fear.” He added that “fortunately, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises, and a lot of fear.”
Corriere della Sera reported that the incident happened while Baggio and his family were watching Italy play Spain in the European Championships. Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, stated that all Venetians hope for Baggio’s swift recovery from “this bad evening,” describing him as the “symbolic champion of our football and our region.” Zaia condemned the incident unequivocally and expressed hope that the perpetrators would soon be brought to justice.
The robbery reportedly lasted about 40 minutes. Baggio attempted to stop the burglars, but one struck him on the forehead with a gun, as reported by the AFP news agency. Subsequently, he and his family were locked in a room while the burglars ransacked the house in search of valuables. It remains unclear how much was stolen. Although shaken by the incident, Baggio’s family was not injured.
