# Julio Velasco commentary on sports culture > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/julio-velasco-commentary-on-sports-culture > Updated: 2026-10-02T07:24:55.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Julio Velasco, head coach of the Italian women’s national volleyball team, addressed sports culture and fandom during the Trento Sport Festival. Velasco advocated for constructive fan support, suggesting that supporters should act as encouragers rather than judges, particularly during difficult periods. He noted that the pursuit of invincibility is an unattainable ideal that can negatively impact young athletes, arguing that true passion arises from uncertainty. Expanding on the nature of fandom, Velasco commented on the volatility of public opinion, citing Lionel Messi’s relationship with Argentine fans as an example of how athletes can shift from being insulted to being treated as a ‘semi-god’. He also warned against the dangers of online toxicity and social media anonymity, which he stated can lead to aggression that causes athletes to fear making mistakes. Finally, he expressed pride in his volleyball players following their European Championship final loss to Turkey. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-02: Julio Velasco discusses Lionel Messi's retirement and sports fandom At the Trento Sport Festival, volleyball coach Julio Velasco discussed Lionel Messi's retirement and criticized the inconsistency of fan support and the impact of online aggression in sports. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/julio-velasco-discusses-lionel-messis-retirement-and-sports-fandom ### 2026-10-01: Julio Velasco calls for fan support and discusses sports invincibility Italian women's volleyball coach Julio Velasco urges fans to provide constructive support and discusses the importance of embracing uncertainty and the lack of true invincibility in professional sports. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/julio-velasco-calls-for-fan-support-and-discusses-sports-invincibility --- Cite as: Julio Velasco commentary on sports culture. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/julio-velasco-commentary-on-sports-culture