No entry for dogs in Reggio Emilia club, Luca Toni denied access sparking controversy

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

«Vietato l’ingresso ai cani» in un circolo di Reggio Emilia, Luca Toni non entra ed è polemica

The former national team and Palermo striker Luca Toni has attacked a club in Reggio Emilia for not letting him in with his dog. As reported by the local edition of il Resto del Carlino, the world champion was in town yesterday (March 24) to attend a soccer tournament in which his 10-year-old son, who plays for Sassuolo, was participating.

Toni arrived with his golden retriever Stella, but was rejected at the entrance of the Onde Chiare club. He launched the attack with a video on social media. “Madness. We are in 2024 and dogs are not allowed in this club in Reggio Emilia. Congratulations,” vented the former footballer from Serramazzoni, Modena. He then shows his dog on a leash and continues: “Look at this so-called ‘dangerous’ dog… Unfortunately, all sorts of things are allowed in this club, but not dogs…”

Shortly after, another video: “The mega-director came out to tell me that due to hygiene issues, dogs are not allowed as there is a terrace with a pool. Too bad the pool was closed today (yesterday). Madness”.

The director of the private club, Enrico Cavazzoni, gave his version to the newspaper: “Dogs are not allowed in any club in Reggio Emilia. There are hygiene regulations to respect and we were setting up the solarium for the upcoming opening. None of our 700 members have ever complained, if everyone brought their dogs here it would be an unmanageable situation. It is also not true that we denied Mr. Toni the opportunity to watch his son’s match. Like he did shortly after, he could have bypassed the club and arrived directly in front of the playing fields. I explained all this in a kind manner, but he chose to make a story on Instagram like a sixteen-year-old…”