Fiorentina in chaos as Gudmundsson denies penalty refusal and club condemns threats

Fiorentina are spiralling into chaos as Albert Gudmundsson denies Paolo Vanoli’s claim he refused to take a penalty, while the club condemns ‘death threats’ against the families of players.

The Viola were left rock bottom of the Serie A table with just six points from 14 rounds and the only remaining team without a single victory this season.

They fumbled a lead to lose 3-1 away to Sassuolo yesterday, and the statements after the final whistle highlighted the total disfunction within the squad.

Coach Vanoli declared in his press conference that Gudmundsson had been first choice to take the penalty, with Rolando Mandragora in second, but that the Iceland international refused to take it, so Mandragora and Moise Kean got into an argument over who should step up.

Now Gudmundsson has rebuffed that version of events on social media.

“I never have and never will refuse to take a penalty, I always took spot-kicks for the club without problems. Yesterday another player took the ball and wanted to take the penalty, and I am not the type of person who argues with my teammate in front of a packed stadium.”

That of course is precisely what Mandragora and Kean did, until captain Luca Ranieri intervened to lead the striker away.

Gudmundsson later deleted the message, but it was screencapped and reposted many times.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina released a formal statement this afternoon condemning “unacceptable and shameful threats received after the defeat in Reggio Emilia against Sassuolo.

“Behaviour of this type cannot have any place in football, nor around our club. The Club has immediately put itself in contact with its players and the competent authorities to guarantee that every measure necessary is taken to protect the safety of our players, members of Staff, their loved ones and the families involved.

“ACF Fiorentina, in thanking the many fans who already showed affection and support in the wake of these shameful scenes, reaffirm that there will never be room for intimidation, hate or violence.”

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the threats via social media were in particular aimed at the family of full-back Dodo, with his wife Amanda Ferreira posting screenshots of the horrific messages.

She was seemingly not the only one, as other partners of Fiorentina players confirmed they had received similar threats.