The Handshake That Ended Milan's Football War

In 1983, something rare happened between A.C. Milan and Inter fans. After decades of fighting and violence, the two sides came to an agreement. What sparked this change wasn’t a campaign or a league initiative. It was a handshake.

The event took place during an exhibition match between Milan and Inter. At that point, fan violence in the city had become common. The rivalry between the Curva Sud and Curva Nord wasn’t just about chants or banners. More often then not, it turned violent. In 1981, things reached a breaking point when an Inter fan was stabbed in the pancreas and killed. That incident became the catalyst for change.

Leaders from both fan groups agreed to meet ahead of the 1983 match. The meeting happened in the Curva Sud. After talks between the two sides, it ended with a handshake. That single gesture marked the beginning of a non-violence pact between Milan and Inter fans. Since then, the agreement has mostly been respected. There have been a few smaller incidents over the years, but nothing close to the level of violence seen before.

It is important to note that the pact only applies to matches between Milan and Inter. Violence has still occurred between Milan ultras and fans of other clubs. But the real significance of the 1983 handshake lies in what it did for the city of Milan. At a time when matchday violence was almost expected, this one act of respect helped bring some level of peace between the two biggest fan groups in the city for decades to come.

Some would argue that the handshake helped save lives. Considering how frequent and serious the clashes had become, that statement may not be far off.