What does Cristi Chivu's player risk, after causing a fatal accident » The three scenarios considered by the Italians
Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 07:31 / Updated Wednesday, October 29, 2025 07:31
Josep Martinez (27), Inter's backup goalkeeper, was involved in a fatal accident on Tuesday, October 28. The Spanish footballer ran over an 81-year-old man in a wheelchair on his way to the Appiano training base. The opening of the investigation is a standard procedure in such cases, and the Italian journalists announced what the next scenarios are and what the Chivu player risks.
On the morning of October 28, around 9:45, the Spanish goalkeeper hit Paolo Saibene, an 81-year-old man, with his car, who died on impact. Martinez was on his way to his team's practice when the accident happened.
Now, Josep Martinez is being investigated for manslaughter. The investigation was opened ex officio, a mandatory measure given the tragic circumstances, according to gazzetta.it.
According to the first reconstructions of the event, the victim had shown signs of instability a few meters before suddenly stepping on the road, in the path of the cars. The Lomazzo police carried out measurements at the scene to establish the dynamics of the accident and to determine how it happened and whether the Inter player was at fault or simply had no way to intervene.
Josep Martinez faces 7 years in prison if found guilty
The 27-year-old's car has been impounded by police for inquiries and the road has been temporarily closed to allow inquiries to take place. From a legal point of view, the act falls under manslaughter, according to the Italian Penal Code.
The question that arises now is what exactly is the footballer risking? Italian journalists explained at length the three scenariosfrom the worst to absolving the Inter player of any fault
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If it will be proven that Josep Martinez violated the traffic rules, the punishment varies between 2 and 7 years in prisonalong with the suspension of the driver's license;
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If his fault is considered minor and is not related to a violation of the traffic code, the sentence could be between 6 months and 5 years, plus a fine.
However, the events that happened in the province of Como seem to indicate a fortuitous case, so there is also a third option, that the goalkeeper escapes any punishment.
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If the investigation will confirm that the victim entered the road in an unpredictable mannerthe case could be dismissed without criminal consequences for Martinez. In this scenario, liability would be limited to civil damageswhich would be covered by insurance. The legislation states that if the pedestrian behaves exceptionally and unpredictably, the driver is not held responsible.
