(ANSA) - Naples, December 1 - Rightwing populist League
leader Matteo Salvini met Thursday night with Napoli players
Lorenzo Insigne and José Callejon to apologise for past
statements against Neapolitans.
"Long live beautiful soccer!" tweeted the anti-euro,
anti-migrant leader after the meeting at the hotel near Naples
they happened to be sharing, which also included Napoli Vice
President Edoardo De Laurentiis.
Napoli said after a storm of criticism from fans Friday that
it had not accepted Salvini's apology, but "we listened to him
willingly".
One fan was outraged that Napoli should agree to meet
Salvini, who "has for years been calling us cholera-struck and
'terroni'," a pejorative term for a southerner.
Northern Italian fans regularly taunt Napoli fans with chants
like Come on Vesuvius!.
Formerly secessionist chief Salvini has dropped the name
Northern from his League as he bids to win southern support
ahead of next year's general election.
Soccer: Salvini says sorry to Napoli
Southern club doesn't accept apology