Greta Beccaglia, of Toscana TV, was reporting from outside a stadium following the match between Empoli and Fiorentina on Saturday evening.

During her live report, the 27-year-old was seen being slapped on the backside by a passing spectator.

“Excuse me, you can’t do that,” Beccaglia said, before other men passed by closely muttering comments and one stopped to swear into the camera and make a rude hand gesture.

Compounding the situation, Beccaglia’s male colleague in the studio, 65-year-old veteran journalist Giorgio Micheletti, was widely accused of downplaying the incident, advising her “not to get mad” over it.

The timing of the footage was particularly concerning.

The match took place two days after the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the players took to the field in the Castellani Stadium with red marks on their faces to highlight the scourge of domestic abuse and to raise awareness of the anti-stalking hotline 1522.

It was the centrepiece in a high-profile Serie A campaign called ‘Give violence against women the red card’.

Beccaglia took to Instagram immediately after the incident, which she described as “unacceptable in 2021”, and asked her followers if anyone could recognise the football fan who molested her.

Police have since identified the man and Beccaglia has reportedly filed charges.

Meanwhile, her colleague Micheletti has apologised publicly for his reaction to the incident.

“I apologise for the unfortunate words used in the agitated moment of the live broadcast on Saturday,” he told ANSA.

“In that moment, my only interest was to be of help to Greta.

“I’ve always had great respect for women, in my life and in my professional career.”

The assault on Beccaglia was condemned outright by politicians from both sides.

Speaker of the lower house, Roberto Fico, said the incident could “not be downplayed in any way”.

“It’s a real episode of violence that must be condemned without hesitation,” he wrote on Twitter.

The president of the senate, Maria Elisabetta Casellati, echoed Fico’s sentiment.

“I hope that the unacceptable harassment on live TV will be prosecuted without hesitation,” she said.

Former prime minister and leader of the populist Five Star Movement (M5S), Giuseppe Conte, described the incident as “an ignoble gesture” and “an attack on the freedoms of all women”.

The incident was also decried by both Empoli and Fiorentina, with the latter football club contacting Beccaglia to offer authorities any help in tracking down the culprit.

Serie A also released a statement in support of Beccaglia.

“Violence is expressed in many forms,” the league posted on Twitter.

“We condemn them all, today and forever.

“Solidarity with Greta Beccaglia.”

Beccaglia told ANSA that what happened to her should never happen again to any woman.

“It was filmed live on TV because I was at work,” she said.

“But unfortunately, as we know, such harassment occurs to other women with the cameras off, that is, without anyone knowing.

“I’m receiving many messages of solidarity from fans and ordinary people, but also from well-known personalities who have a very important influence on public opinion and this is a very positive general reaction.

 “However, events like this must never happen again.”