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You're like a gladiator': calcio storico players on the world's most brutal game | Sport | The Guardian
![Rossi (Red) Santa Maria Novella players warm up before the Calcio Fiorentino (historic football) semifinal match against Verdi (green) San Giovanni at Santa Croce Square in Florence, Italy, June 10, 2017. Giovanni Rossi (Red) Santa Maria Novella players warm up before the Calcio Fiorentino (historic football) semifinal match against Verdi (green) San Giovanni at Santa Croce Square in Florence, Italy, June 10, 2017. Giovanni](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CH93EY/rossi-red-santa-maria-novella-players-warm-up-before-the-calcio-fiorentino-historic-football-semifinal-match-against-verdi-green-san-giovanni-at-santa-croce-square-in-florence-italy-june-10-2017-giovanni-de-bardi-published-the-rules-of-the-game-in-1580-which-is-played-on-a-field-of-sand-by-27-players-allowed-to-use-feet-and-hands-to-play-the-ball-reutersalessandro-bianchi-2CH93EY.jpg)
Rossi (Red) Santa Maria Novella players warm up before the Calcio Fiorentino (historic football) semifinal match against Verdi (green) San Giovanni at Santa Croce Square in Florence, Italy, June 10, 2017. Giovanni
![Florence, Italy. 24th June, 2017. Players compete during the final match of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino traditional 16th Century Renaissance ball game at Santa Croce square in Florence, central Italy, June 24, Florence, Italy. 24th June, 2017. Players compete during the final match of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino traditional 16th Century Renaissance ball game at Santa Croce square in Florence, central Italy, June 24,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/JEGH7H/florence-italy-24th-june-2017-players-compete-during-the-final-match-JEGH7H.jpg)
Florence, Italy. 24th June, 2017. Players compete during the final match of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino traditional 16th Century Renaissance ball game at Santa Croce square in Florence, central Italy, June 24,
![Calcio Storico Fiorentino final 2017: BIANCHI 6 ROSSI 5,5 - Torre dei Lari Residenza d'Epoca - Villa Strozzi-Machiavelli Calcio Storico Fiorentino final 2017: BIANCHI 6 ROSSI 5,5 - Torre dei Lari Residenza d'Epoca - Villa Strozzi-Machiavelli](http://www.villalariflorence.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/calcio-fiorentino.jpg)
Calcio Storico Fiorentino final 2017: BIANCHI 6 ROSSI 5,5 - Torre dei Lari Residenza d'Epoca - Villa Strozzi-Machiavelli
![Florence, Italy. 24th June, 2017. Players compete during the final match of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino traditional 16th Century Renaissance ball game at Santa Croce square in Florence, central Italy, June 24, Florence, Italy. 24th June, 2017. Players compete during the final match of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino traditional 16th Century Renaissance ball game at Santa Croce square in Florence, central Italy, June 24,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/JEGH7A/florence-italy-24th-june-2017-players-compete-during-the-final-match-JEGH7A.jpg)
Florence, Italy. 24th June, 2017. Players compete during the final match of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino traditional 16th Century Renaissance ball game at Santa Croce square in Florence, central Italy, June 24,
![Calcio Storico Fiorentino final 2017: BIANCHI 6 ROSSI 5,5 - Torre dei Lari Residenza d'Epoca - Villa Strozzi-Machiavelli Calcio Storico Fiorentino final 2017: BIANCHI 6 ROSSI 5,5 - Torre dei Lari Residenza d'Epoca - Villa Strozzi-Machiavelli](http://www.villalariflorence.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/quartieri_storici_firenze-1024x700.jpg)