An Italian restaurant owner got himself in a pickle when halfway through the Malta vs Italy game on Tuesday evening he called the Maltese “Arab Bedouins” and “hungry potato pickers” on Facebook.
This happens when you mix two very dangerous things: football and Facebook
Soon after Italy’s first goal in the World Cup qualifier, Enzo Messiniano,who owns La Piccola Calabria in Xemxija, logged on to his restaurant’s Facebook wall.
He wrote: “Come on champions let us score another 10 goals and give them a lesson in football. You Maltese, go and pick potatoes, forget football, it is not for you.”
The comment caught the eye of half-Italian folk singer Tony Camilleri, who politely pointed out that his restaurant meant he was earning his living off “us potato pickers”.
Mr Messiniano shot back: “Were it not for us Italians who came here with our money and intelligence, you would still be Arab Bedouins.” He then told Mr Camilleri to “go and sing your crap Arabic songs”.
Maltese Facebook users – in patriotic vein while watching the match –immediately showed the Calabrian the red card and some unprintable remarks were made.
His comments went viral, creative memes sprouted all over, and Facebook groups were set up calling for the restaurant to be boycotted.
When contacted, Mr Messiniano said he was aware of these groups – joined by more than 8,000 people – but would not comment as he would be speaking to his lawyers and taking matters from there.
In the meantime, on Facebook yesterday morning he explained he had been teasing his wife – a private joke on a public wall – when prior to Mr Camilleri’s comment, someone else “butted in” and offended his wife and family.
“This grave offence made me lose my head and maybe say something extra.” He apologised and said he has lived well in Malta for 11 years.
However, it was too late. Waiters at his restaurant said they had been receiving offensive calls all day.
Blogger J’accuse commented: “Piccola Calabria: A future that unites us” in a jibe at the PL’s billboard poster.
Another blogger, Wayne Flask, questioned what the restaurant’s gnocchi were made of, “seeing as he considers potato picking as degrading”.
“Does he fill them up with oxygen, I wonder?”
When contacted Mr Camilleri said he had never met Mr Messiniano and had no idea the incident would go viral.
“After I politely replied to him, I switched off Facebook and kept on watching the game. We should accept his apology.”
On timesofmalta.com, William Sangiacomo from Calabria said not all Calabrians are rude: “This happens when you mix two very dangerous things: football and Facebook.”