Catania "held hostage" by Ultras
Catania President Antonio Pulvirenti has decided to carry on in charge of the club, but warns he’s held to ransom by the Ultras threats of further violence.
"For the moment I will stay, but we all have to react to what has happened," said the patron who took this side back to Serie A for the first time in 20 years and challenging for a Champions League spot.
Straight after the news that a police officer had been killed in the rioting outside the Stadio Massimino on Friday night, Pulvirenti had expressed his desire to sell the club and leave the sport, but with time he has mellowed his approach.
"I shall stay because it is our duty to react. However, once the situation has been worked out, I will take a different path."
According to the Pulvirenti – and Lazio President Claudio Lotito, who was also interviewed on television programme ‘Quelli Che il Calcio’ this afternoon – the real problem is the fact clubs are fined when their fans cause trouble.
"Paradoxically, this rule allows the Ultra’ to hold us to ransom. We’ve already played two games behind closed doors, but as you saw, it made no difference. There are people out there blackmailing the club and not getting punished for it."
There have been reports of some very complicated relationships between the hardline organised tifosi and the clubs in Serie A, from demands they be allowed to sell tickets in their bases to marketing rights and free trips to away games.
"We have never accepted compromises with these people and never will, but for three years this battle has been raging. After the riots against Messina, we barred out fans from reaching Florence for the next game by refusing to sell them tickets. That was our strong signal and the commission for security in stadiums praised us. It has become a daily challenge and we can’t do much about it on our own," continued Pulvirenti.
"The Ultras asked us for free tickets, money for away trips, lots of things that we always rejected. Our policy has been rigorous and inflexible. At the Massimino, everyone has to pay their way.
"The majority of our fans are good people, but unfortunately there is a minority of delinquents and criminals who live barbaric lives. Because of them, we’ve had to pay £132,000 in fines plus a two-match home ban."
The Catania-born businessman took over the club in 2004 and lived up to his pledge to take them into Serie A within three years, but the repeated serious crowd problems could see the side docked points or even demoted.
"I fear the worst, but it’s hardly our fault if some criminal outside the stadium decides to throw a homemade bomb at an agent. In one night, they have destroyed three years of splendid work.
"There is open warfare between the fans and the police in Catania. This is a social and cultural problem and we have reached the peak. It has degenerated to such a degree that we must all stop and intervene. I want to thank the police forces for all they do to ensure our safety and I cannot accept that a man was killed doing his job this way. It’s absurd and totally unacceptable."
Source: C4 Football Italia
"For the moment I will stay, but we all have to react to what has happened," said the patron who took this side back to Serie A for the first time in 20 years and challenging for a Champions League spot.
Straight after the news that a police officer had been killed in the rioting outside the Stadio Massimino on Friday night, Pulvirenti had expressed his desire to sell the club and leave the sport, but with time he has mellowed his approach.
"I shall stay because it is our duty to react. However, once the situation has been worked out, I will take a different path."
According to the Pulvirenti – and Lazio President Claudio Lotito, who was also interviewed on television programme ‘Quelli Che il Calcio’ this afternoon – the real problem is the fact clubs are fined when their fans cause trouble.
"Paradoxically, this rule allows the Ultra’ to hold us to ransom. We’ve already played two games behind closed doors, but as you saw, it made no difference. There are people out there blackmailing the club and not getting punished for it."
There have been reports of some very complicated relationships between the hardline organised tifosi and the clubs in Serie A, from demands they be allowed to sell tickets in their bases to marketing rights and free trips to away games.
"We have never accepted compromises with these people and never will, but for three years this battle has been raging. After the riots against Messina, we barred out fans from reaching Florence for the next game by refusing to sell them tickets. That was our strong signal and the commission for security in stadiums praised us. It has become a daily challenge and we can’t do much about it on our own," continued Pulvirenti.
"The Ultras asked us for free tickets, money for away trips, lots of things that we always rejected. Our policy has been rigorous and inflexible. At the Massimino, everyone has to pay their way.
"The majority of our fans are good people, but unfortunately there is a minority of delinquents and criminals who live barbaric lives. Because of them, we’ve had to pay £132,000 in fines plus a two-match home ban."
The Catania-born businessman took over the club in 2004 and lived up to his pledge to take them into Serie A within three years, but the repeated serious crowd problems could see the side docked points or even demoted.
"I fear the worst, but it’s hardly our fault if some criminal outside the stadium decides to throw a homemade bomb at an agent. In one night, they have destroyed three years of splendid work.
"There is open warfare between the fans and the police in Catania. This is a social and cultural problem and we have reached the peak. It has degenerated to such a degree that we must all stop and intervene. I want to thank the police forces for all they do to ensure our safety and I cannot accept that a man was killed doing his job this way. It’s absurd and totally unacceptable."
Source: C4 Football Italia
posted by italian calcio blog at 4:04 pm
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