A tragic incident unfolded on a highway near Rieti, Italy, when a bus carrying supporters of the Pistoia Basket basketball team was attacked by rival fans, resulting in the death of a bus driver. The attack occurred as the fans were returning from a game between Pistoia Basket and SRS Sebastiani Rieti, two second-tier Italian basketball teams. According to local media reports, fans of SRS Sebastiani Rieti allegedly began hurling stones at the bus, one of which shattered the windscreen and struck 65-year-old Raffaele Marianella, a bus driver who was seated at the front but not driving at the time. Marianella succumbed to his injuries shortly after the attack. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the incident as ‘an unacceptable and insane act of violence,’ extending her condolences to the victim’s family and vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. A police investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend those responsible. Italy’s Sports Minister Andrea Abodi labeled the attack a ‘shocking assault,’ emphasizing that the perpetrators were ‘criminals who have turned into murderers and can never be called fans.’ Gianni Petrucci, president of the national basketball federation Federbasket, echoed these sentiments, stating, ‘This is not about basketball. These are criminals.’ He pledged to collaborate with legal authorities to address the incident. The attack has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about fan violence in sports.