Soccer
Nigeria and Hellas Verona striker Gift Emmanuel Orban made the headlines after getting into a physical altercation with a fan, Soccernet.ng reports.
According to several sources, the incident happened shortly after Verona’s loss to AC Milan. A fan tried to get his child to take pictures with the former Lyon striker, but he wasn’t budging.
As he moved forward, the fan chose to hit Orban’s car, a gesture the attacker clearly didn’t appreciate, and things got physical very quickly.
🤯 Verona oyuncusu Gift Orban, Milan mağlubiyeti sonrası arabasına vuran bir taraftara saldırdı!
pic.twitter.com/hCzu1hRAsD— Calcio Türkiye 🇹🇷🇮🇹 (@CalcioTurkey) April 19, 2026
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Former Juventus and Italy striker Gianfranco Zigoni has opined on the altercation between Gift Orban and the fan just outside of Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
“It’s an pen gesture. I feel very sorry for everyone involved. It is clear that Orban was very nervous but a player must always be proud of the support of the fans, even more so when things are as negative as it is for Verona,” the 81-year-old said in quotes revealed by Tutto Mercato Web.
“It may be that he felt down, and just wanted to leave, but people are there for the team, for the passion, for the love they have for Hellas.
“It’s there for you too and you have to be grateful.
“I hope Orban can meet the fan and apologize to him. I believe and hope that he has understood the seriousness of what he has done, for this reason I invoke a peace debate.
“Punishment? They are the decisions of the club. It is not up to me to establish the most appropriate decisions,” Zigoni concluded.
Since the turn of the year, Hellas Verona have played 18 league games, winning just one. The Yellow-Blues are in real danger of relegation to Serie B, as they’re ten points behind 17th-placed Cremonese with five league games left to play.
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