Platini wants open doors

Newly elected UEFA chief Michel Platini has praised the new anti-hooliganism measures adopted in Italy, but is against the concept of playing behind closed doors.

Matches will resume over the weekend, but five Serie A fixtures will be played in empty stadiums after the Government confirmed that venues which do not meet the required safety measures will remain shut to supporters.

"I obviously agree with the Italian Football Federation’s decision to suspend the championships after the death of a policeman," said Platini in an interview with France 24.

"However, as to the closed doors, I don’t think it is fair to penalise the clubs.

"People cause this kind of trouble and those supporters must be made responsible for their actions."

The former Juventus great added: "Violent fans must be punished and should be banned from stadiums. This must obviously be done with the Government and the police, clubs alone cannot solve this kind of problem.

"As to the serious issue of racism, I am ready to suspend matches, just as in Holland some time ago.

"Again, to do this, we would need to work alongside the police to guarantee the safe exit of all fans from venues," he concluded.

Source: C4 Football Italia