Retired Italian star Roberto Baggio was robbed at gunpoint in his home while watching the national team's match against Spain at the European Championship on Thursday, local police said.
At least five armed robbers broke into the village of Baggio near the northern city of Vicenza around 10pm local time on Thursday, according to Italian media reports. One of them hit Baggio on the head with the butt of a gun when the former soccer player confronted them.
The thieves locked Baggio, 57, and his family in a room while they stole jewelry, watches and cash.
After the robbers left, Baggio broke down the door and called the police. They took him to the hospital and gave him stitches in the wound. His family members were not injured.
“In such circumstances anything can happen. Fortunately, the violence only caused a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear,” Baggio said in statements to the Italian news agency ANSA. “Now we have to overcome the fear.”
Baggio made 56 appearances for Italy and scored 27 goals. He played for Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan, three of the country's biggest clubs.
Spain won the match against Italy in Gelsenkirchen 1-0.
Information from Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
