Rino Foschi, Palermo's director of sport, received the macabre package on December 22. It was sent from the city and wrapped in Christmas paper.

The grisly parcel was opened by Foschi's wife on Christmas eve while he was in Cesena, a small city in the north east of Italy.

"It's a very unsavoury gesture that offends the whole city and not just the football club," Zamparini said.

Foschi gave a statement to police who are also looking into two similarly sinister incidents that took place in Palermo over the Christmas period.

Adele Mormino, Superintendent of Palermo's Culture and Environmental Heritage, was also delivered a goat's head, this time wrapped in cellophane, while Palermo mayor Diego Cammarata was sent a bullet.

The motive behind the grim packages is unknown.