Photographer’s image of Materazzi and Rui Costa revisited ahead of Milan derby broadcast
Photographer Stefano Rellandini’s shot of Inter defender Marco Materazzi leaning on AC Milan attacker Rui Costa, taken during the abandoned 2005 Champions League quarter-final at the San Siro, is being revisited by BBC Sport ahead of the Milan derby live on Saturday, 31 October with a 19:40 GMT start. The picture has become synonymous with the fixture’s rivalry and was made as supporters’ pyrotechnics brought the match to a halt.
Rellandini told BBC Sport he noticed the moment amid chaotic scenes that left the pitch obscured by smoke and flares. A version of this article was first published in May 2023. The second-leg tie was abandoned after 73 minutes when objects were thrown from a section of Inter fans; one flare struck and injured Milan goalkeeper Dida and the tie was later awarded to Milan, who led 3-0 on aggregate.
Describing his decision to shoot, Rellandini said: "Everyone was focused on the flares, on the smoke," and: "But near the centre of the pitch I saw a certain moment." He recalled Materazzi's physical reputation and Rui Costa's more artistic style: "Materazzi was nicknamed something like a butcher; he is not really a gentle player. Rui Costa was the opposite - more gentle, more artistic in his football. For several seconds Materazzi put his elbow on the shoulder of Rui Costa. So when I saw that, I shot it. I have just one frame in that sequence. That was the moment." Rellandini was working for Reuters at the time and described the San Siro atmosphere as intense: "The atmosphere that night was like every time you have an AC Milan and Inter derby at the San Siro."
On the field, Andriy Shevchenko opened the scoring about 30 minutes into the second leg with a left-footed effort from outside the box, while earlier incidents—Shevchenko appearing to headbutt Materazzi and disputed penalty appeals—had already heightened tensions. A later corner from Juan Sebastián Verón appeared to be headed in by Esteban Cambiasso to make it 3-1 on aggregate, but the goal was disallowed because Julio Cruz was ruled to have fouled Dida; that decision preceded the surge of flares down onto the turf.
Players clustered in the centre as Maldini, Cambiasso and Inter captain Javier Zanetti argued with referee Markus Merk, and Zanetti and Verón assisted firefighters and ground staff clearing the goalmouth. A flare struck Dida on the shoulder; he received treatment for first-degree burns and was replaced by Christian Abbiati when play briefly resumed, but the projectile barrage continued and Merk abandoned the fixture. Maldini said: "The referee took the right decision." Carlo Ancelotti called the episode "disgraceful" and added: "What happened will not just discredit Inter but all of the city. The reaction of the Inter fans was completely unexpected. I was really surprised because I have never seen something like that in all of the Milan derbies that I have taken part in." Roberto Mancini also condemned the incident.
Authorities and officials responded: Milan police chief Paolo Scarpi blamed "two to three hundred hooligans… the usual hotheads from the Inter section," and then-owner Silvio Berlusconi urged "drastic measures". Uefa fined Inter £132,000 and ordered the club to play four European matches behind closed doors; a Uefa spokesperson said: "This is the largest fine in Uefa's history. There will be some people who think it is lenient and some people who think it harsh."
Afterward, Milan progressed past PSV Eindhoven on away goals in the semi-finals—Dida set a Champions League record of seven successive clean sheets in Milan's 2-0 first-leg win before PSV won the return 3-1—and then lost the 2005 final to Liverpool in Istanbul on penalties after surrendering a three-goal lead. Milan beat Liverpool in the 2007 final in Athens. The article notes that both clubs later featured in the Calciopoli investigations of 2006; Juventus were relegated and Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were docked points. Inter were awarded the 2006 title and went on to win four consecutive Serie A titles, culminating in a Treble under Jose Mourinho in 2009-10, while neither Milan side has won the European Cup since.
AC Milan v Inter Milan is scheduled for Saturday, 31 October - live from 19:40 GMT on BBC Two, iPlayer and BBC Alba.
