After 12 years of drug use ban: Francesco Flaki is back in action

The former striker of Fiorentina and Sampdoria, who was suspended in 2010 after cocaine was found in his blood, made the comeback at the age of 46, in a Chinese uniform from the fifth division: "I did not sleep for a week due to excitement"

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14/02/2022

Monday, February 14, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

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Sampdoria 0: 4 win over Sesotho (Sport 1)

Francesco Flaki, the former striker for Fiorentina and Sampdoria, made his comeback to the pitches yesterday (Sunday) after a 12-year suspension.

Flaky was suspended in January 2010 following cocaine use when he was 34 and wore a Brescia uniform, but he promised to return at the end of the sentence and did so as an amateur Chinese player from the Fifth League, in the media recorded 30 minutes yesterday, less than two months before his 47th birthday.

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Flaki, who grew up in Florence and was a partner in Fiorentina's league promotion in 1993, later also played for Barry Vancona, but is best remembered for his days at Sampdoria, where he helped return to Serie A and then survive and even get a ticket to fifth-place Europe thanks to a wonderful collaboration on offense with Fabio Bazzani.

But that's where the problems started.

In September 2006, the striker was suspended for two months for involvement in gambling and was later found positive in a drug test with cocaine in his blood and suspended for two years in 2007.

His contract at Samp was then canceled, but he waited for the suspension to end and returned as an ampoule player and then went on to Brescia.

The second time, the penalty for using cocaine was already much heavier and Flaky, who had previously also been briefly invited to the Italy squad (but did not get to play in the media) was forced to stay off the pitch for 12 years.

Yesterday, as mentioned, he returned, and his former coach at Sampdoria Walter Noblino came to honor him.

"I felt confused before the game, I did not sleep a week out of excitement," he said after his first minutes as a footballer since 2010. "I am so happy now and want to thank everyone who helped me feel like a footballer again. "I will also start a coaching course. I know a person can make mistakes and fall, but he can also get back on his feet. Life is full of unexpected events. I want to do my part and show that I can play a role in the world of football."

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