Matarrese: Don't panic
Lega Calcio chief Antonio Matarrese has warned against a snap decision in the wake of the Sicilian riots.
All football activity in the peninsula was suspended with immediate effect after a police officer was killed in a battle with Catania fans on Friday evening, but it’s rumoured that if the campaign does resume, it will be behind closed doors for two weeks - or even for the rest of the season.
"This pause for thought has been very useful and I shared FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli’s important decision. I made the same choice in 1995 when Vincenzo Spagnolo was killed before Genoa-Milan," said Matarrese, who was head of the Federation the last time calcio was halted.
"But we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. I cannot imagine a country that bends down to accommodate criminals. We can’t show such weakness.
"I don’t appreciate those who say this season should end here, or that we should play in empty stadiums. It would mean destroying an immense and gratifying sport. Everyone should take the opportunity to calm down and stop panicking."
The Lega Calcio was already engaged in a battle with the FIGC to elect the next President of the Federation and Matarrese took this chance to push for a place at the meeting with Government officials set for this afternoon.
"I ask Commissioner Pancalli to remember that we, the motor behind Italian football, cannot sit inert while decisions are made for us. We want to be part of the process and contribute to the choices made."
Nonetheless, the representative of the ‘union’ of Serie A and B clubs did confess that the Legge Pisanu recommendations have not been implemented – such as CCTV networks, club-organised stewards and security checks.
"I agree that perhaps we didn’t entirely respect the new laws due to a series of issues, such as the lack of funds from the local councils. We realise that we have to implement these rulings in full. At this point, though, we are starting to understand that our financial resources are not enough to cover these costs."
Matarrese also pointed the finger at the constant media debate over refereeing errors and rivalry that further intensified the hooligan element in stadiums.
"We recognise we have made stupid mistakes and some Presidents used the wrong tone in their comments that further inflamed popular feeling around the teams. I feel ashamed about that. But now to throw away everything good about this sport strikes me as irresponsible. Stadiums cannot be closed, as football must win back its role at the centre of this country."
Source: C4 Football Italia
All football activity in the peninsula was suspended with immediate effect after a police officer was killed in a battle with Catania fans on Friday evening, but it’s rumoured that if the campaign does resume, it will be behind closed doors for two weeks - or even for the rest of the season.
"This pause for thought has been very useful and I shared FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli’s important decision. I made the same choice in 1995 when Vincenzo Spagnolo was killed before Genoa-Milan," said Matarrese, who was head of the Federation the last time calcio was halted.
"But we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. I cannot imagine a country that bends down to accommodate criminals. We can’t show such weakness.
"I don’t appreciate those who say this season should end here, or that we should play in empty stadiums. It would mean destroying an immense and gratifying sport. Everyone should take the opportunity to calm down and stop panicking."
The Lega Calcio was already engaged in a battle with the FIGC to elect the next President of the Federation and Matarrese took this chance to push for a place at the meeting with Government officials set for this afternoon.
"I ask Commissioner Pancalli to remember that we, the motor behind Italian football, cannot sit inert while decisions are made for us. We want to be part of the process and contribute to the choices made."
Nonetheless, the representative of the ‘union’ of Serie A and B clubs did confess that the Legge Pisanu recommendations have not been implemented – such as CCTV networks, club-organised stewards and security checks.
"I agree that perhaps we didn’t entirely respect the new laws due to a series of issues, such as the lack of funds from the local councils. We realise that we have to implement these rulings in full. At this point, though, we are starting to understand that our financial resources are not enough to cover these costs."
Matarrese also pointed the finger at the constant media debate over refereeing errors and rivalry that further intensified the hooligan element in stadiums.
"We recognise we have made stupid mistakes and some Presidents used the wrong tone in their comments that further inflamed popular feeling around the teams. I feel ashamed about that. But now to throw away everything good about this sport strikes me as irresponsible. Stadiums cannot be closed, as football must win back its role at the centre of this country."
Source: C4 Football Italia
posted by italian calcio blog at 10:37 pm
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