San Marino hope for harmony in Italy

San Marino coach Giampaolo Mazza is hopeful today's Euro 2008 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland will go some way towards restoring peace in Italian football.

Although the Republic of San Marino is autonomous, the sad events in surrounding Italy over the past few days have appreciably not gone unnoticed.

The violence that erupted during the Serie A game between Sicilian neighbours Catania and Palermo on Friday, resulting in the death of a policeman, has had a profound and widespread effect.

Football in Italy has been indefinitely suspended, although such a ruling does not affect San Marino, where football life goes on.

"Fortunately in San Marino we don't have this kind of problem like they do in Italy," said Mazza ahead of the game with Ireland at the Serravalle Stadium.

"Italian football doesn't need this kind of problem. It needs more than this for the players, fans, everybody. But if you have this problem then football dies.

"Obviously the people who live in San Marino are fans of Italian football and the Italian national team, and we hope the matches are played again as soon as possible."

Source: Sporting Life