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Italian street paper chase Juventus title dedication for late vendor Claudio

Veteran seller Claudio Calò was a huge fan of the all-conquering football team. Scarp de’ tenis want the club to salute him in celebration of their ninth-straight Serie A title

Claudio Calo Scarp de tenis

The Big Issue’s Italian sister street paper Scarp de’ tenis has kicked off a campaign to ask football team Juventus to dedicate their ninth-straight league title to a late vendor.

Claudio Calò died two months ago after spending 20 years selling the street paper. He also had a lifelong passion for Juve and had been to watch his team at their home stadium four times with Scarp editor Stefano Lampertico.

The street paper even bought Claudio a television and a pay TV subscription so he could follow Juventus’ games because, as Lampertico recalled: “On matchday his main concern was the results”.

Scarp launched their bid on July 23 for the perfect tribute, reaching out to Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon and club president Andrea Agnelli and others on social media before the Bianconeri had chance to close out the title with a result against Udinese. The Old Lady, as Juventus are known, lost that match before sealing the Serie A title with a 2-0 over Sampdoria three days later.

So far, there has been no dedication to Claudio but the Juve fanatic is “still cheering up there” says Lampertico.

This weekend the Serie A draws to a close with Juventus hosting Roma after falling to a 2-0 defeat against Cagliari last night.

Scarp de’ tenis’ campaign will continue until the final whistle is blown on the Covid-19-hit domestic season on Saturday. Forza Claudio!

Top-tier football clubs have joined forces with The Big Issue in the past to support vendors. Southampton FC teamed up with us back in 2017 with a one-of-a-kind Big Issue matchday programme. It’s a partnership that has seen Saints Foundation, the club’s official charity, work with vendors to offer employment opportunities and work with Big Issue journalists to help local youngsters create their own magazine.

Image: Scarp de’ tenis

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