PM calls for 'strong signal'

Italian political figures, including Prime Minister Romano Prodi, have asked for a strong signal that football-related violence will not be tolerated.

The FIGC has ordered the suspension of all football in Italy the tragic Catania-Palermo Sicilian derby, in which 38-year-old Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti was killed by a homemade bomb thrown into his car.

"After the incredibly serious incidents that took place in Catania, our first thoughts go to those who were caught up in it and to their families," said Prime Minister Prodi.

"But straight after that I feel it my duty to say we need a strong and clear signal to avoid the degeneration of sport, which unfortunately we are forced to witness with increasing intensity."

"What has happened is monstrous. I am without words. This is absurd, unthinkable and totally unacceptable," noted Mayor of Catania Umberto Scapagnini.

The President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano also released a statement on the shameful incidents.

"Struck by the severity of the rioting and the astonishing number of injured among the police and citizens, President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano reaffirms that the condemnation for the dramatic rise in football-related violence must be accompanied by responsible choices and behaviour.

"We cannot have the values of sport and the civil conscience of the country sullied in this way."

Political parties from all sides are now calling for an English-style system of policing the Ultra’ in a bid to eradicate the growing hooliganism problem in Italy.

New laws had already been introduced this season, but proved to be ineffective.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Matarrese: It's time to take stock

Lega Calcio President Antonio Matarrese led the chorus of approval for the decision to halt football in Italy following the death of a police officer.

"For all of us it is a terrible moment, as we come together to cry for the death of this young agent," said Matarrese.

"Never more so than now, football must stop and take a good long look at itself. We have to reflect on what the future holds," added Matarrese.

Most clubs up and down Italy have posted messages of condolence and support on their websites for the course of action taken by the Federation.

"Massimo Moratti and all of F.C. Internazionale embrace the family, friends and colleagues of Filippo Raciti and totally share the FIGC’s decision to stop the Championship," read the Inter site.

AC Milan's website read, "All of A.C. Milan express their condolences in the most heartfelt and sincere way to the family of Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti, who died during the guerrilla warfare that broke out for the match between Catania and Palermo."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Zamparini: We all lost

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini said the Sicilian derby riots were "a defeat for football."

Palermo won 2-1 at Catania’s Stadio Angelo Massimino, but the game was followed by rioting that saw a police officer killed.

"I consider those who go to the stadium to have fights to be delinquents and nothing more," noted Zamparini.

"I have said since the moment I arrived at Palermo that if there were any serious incidents inside the stadium, I would immediately leave the club."

Zamparini had been in charge of Venezia when he decided to invest in Palermo, pumping cash into the Serie B side and taking them to their first promotion in 30 years. The club are now in third place and had played in the UEFA Cup this season.

"Nobody won tonight. It was a defeat for football and for all of us. At this moment, my heart goes out to the family of that poor man."

The Palermo fans and the entire squad was kept inside the Massimino for several hours after the final whistle, as Catania supporters continued to clash with the police.

It was there that a home-made bomb was thrown into the car of 38-year-old Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti.

"We weren’t told anything, we just had to stay in the locker room and wait for news," explained coach Francesco Guidolin.

"If we don’t get it into our heads that football is a sport, then we really won’t have room to breathe. What happened here offends sport and a beautiful, civilised city like Catania."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Catania chief calls it quits

Catania President Antonio Pulvirenti has suggested ending his tenure after their fans caused the death of a police officer.

"Finding out about this death was incredible," said the patron who had bitterly criticised the referee and blamed Palermo fans for the trouble straight after the 2-1 defeat last night.

"In the press room I was commenting on the game and the result, while outside all this was happening."

Catania supporters threw a homemade bomb into Filippo Raciti’s car during a riot outside the Stadio Angelo Massimino and he was declared dead in hospital.

In response, the FIGC has ordered a halt to all football in Italy "indefinitely", including next week’s international friendly against Romania.

"There shouldn’t be football in Catania, because it’s all turned to dust by actions like this. A man died and it’s meaningless to talk about football."

Earlier tonight director Pietro Lo Monaco announced the news that the 38-year-old police officer had been killed and immediately noted he would leave football. "This is a world I don’t recognise," he said.

Now the President has joined him in hinting at an end to his hugely successful time in charge of the club.

"I am enormously upset at this and at this moment in time I intend to call it quits. It cannot be an immediate move purely for administrative reasons, but from tonight this sport no longer fits with me."

Catania have also shut down their official website, leaving only a message. "We apologise, but it seems truly absurd to be writing about football at this time. Our thoughts are exclusively with the family of Chief Inspector Raciti, who lost his life trying to safeguard the public during a match."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Italy friendlies called off

The "indefinite" halt to Italian football following crowd violence has spread to the National teams, so friendlies against Belgium and Romania have been called off.

FIGC President Luca Pancalli ordered the immediate suspension of all football in Italy after a police officer was killed in riots at Catania’s Stadio Angelo Massimino tonight.

It has now been confirmed that the decision also includes the international friendly that the World Cup winners were set to play against Romania on Wednesday at Siena’s Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Tuesday’s Under-21 meeting between Italy and their Belgian counterparts has also been called off.

"We are stopping football indefinitely. One weekend is not sufficient. Without drastic measures, we will not allow sport to resume," added FIGC chief Pancalli this evening.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Players' Association urge year-long suspension

The Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) has urged the suspension of Italian football Leagues for a whole year after the latest tragic incidents.

"Football should stop for a year to reflect on all the evil that comes from it. The culture that surrounds our sport is wrong and has to be revolutionised. We need patience for that to happen and maybe passing on to another generation," said AIC President Sergio Campana.

The FIGC called a halt to all Serie A, B, C and Youth Championship games this weekend after the riots that marred the Sicilian derby.

A 38-year-old police officer was killed in the battles with Catania supporters following Palermo’s 2-1 victory at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

At the moment it is unclear when the fixture list will resume, but the AIC is urging for a definitive stance.

"I think that faced with these events, football should stop for a year and see if we can change our whole approach to sport," continued Campana.

"We have for some time been pointing out that there are weekly attacks on players because they lose a game. This means the very culture of sport in this country is wrong. Right when football is trying to rediscover its credibility after Calciopoli, this sort of thing leaves us dumbfounded."

"The death of a policeman in Catania and the many injuries as a result of this riot is a disturbing turn of events that calls for drastic measures," said Minister for Sport Giovanna Melandri.

"The Government will no longer tolerate the need for thousands of police officers in every match to ensure the safety of its citizens. Along with the Home Office Minister Giuliano Amato, we consider the suspension of the next round of games to be an opportune decision by the FIGC.

"The Government and the world of sport must come together now to make sure the Leagues begin again in a totally different way."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Italian football suspended

The Serie A and B Championships have been suspended after the death of a police officer in the Catania riots.

FIGC President Luca Pancalli made the announcement this evening. "We will immediately set up a permanent round table commission to discuss the situation between sport and politics. It’s not possible to carry on like this. If this is football, then I’m stopping everything."

The Sicilian derby, eventually won 2-1 by Palermo this evening, had been interrupted after 57 minutes due to crowd trouble when tear gas floated on to the pitch.

While play resumed and the final whistle sanctioned the Rosanero’s victory, the problems intensified outside the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

A large group of Catania supporters engaged in a full-scale riot with the police and one officer, 38-year-old Filippo Raciti, was killed when struck in the face by a home-made bomb.

"Football in Italy must stop and take stock. Enough is enough," continued Pancalli. "I cannot find the words to describe a 38-year-old man who lost his life in such a way. This is not sport.

"All the football authorities I spoke to immediately agreed that we had to stop everything. Words aren’t enough any more. Right now I am astonished by what has happened and this is completely unacceptable."

It’s now reported that hundreds of people have been rushed to the local hospital with injuries, although none are thought to be life threatening.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Police tragedy in Catania riots

Catania President Antonio Pulvirenti blamed Palermo fans for the shameful riots that killed a police officer at the Stadio Massimino.

According to reports emerging from the Sicilian town, a police officer was killed during the riots that took place outside the stadium during and after Palermo’s 2-1 victory, struck in the face by a homemade bomb thrown by Catania fans.

The Garibaldi Hospital is reporting over 100 injured have been rushed in for treatment.

"Clearly the incidents were provoked by the Palermo fans when they entered the Stadium. Before then, nothing had happened, but they started causing trouble and as the images show threw tear gas on to the pitch," insisted Catania President Pulvirenti.

The dynamics of the incident are not clear, but it seems as if Palermo supporters arrived in the second half because their bus was lost and the two sets of fans threw objects at each other.

"They were well-organised and came here in order to cause trouble. We feel penalised and will appeal against the result so that the match will be considered void. We’ve been punished for less in the past and demand the same treatment.

"I was on the field and, if you look carefully, the section where the tear gas came from only had Palermo fans in there. The officials saw what happened and will take action."

Pulvirenti continued to back his fans, even though after the final whistle a full-scale riot between locals and the police, in which an officer was killed.

"I will not put any blame on to the Catania supporters. I didn’t see them do anything wrong."

The Catania President did not help calm the situation with his post-match comments on the football itself.

"The first goal was offside and the second had a handling offence, so the referee dominated the game on a very bad day at the office. We played against 12 men today and lost because we were playing against the referee."

Catania director Pietro Lo Monaco broke the news of the policeman’s death and was visibly shaken.

"We’ve been told by our security services from the hospital that a police officer has died as a result of the crowd trouble.

"I have intensely loved football my whole life and I no longer recognise myself in this sport. With this news, I will leave football, it’s not for me any more. This isn’t football, this isn’t football, this isn’t football."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Guidolin: It was a war zone

Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin blamed Catania fans for the ‘war zone’ atmosphere and warned football "can’t carry on like this."

The Rosanero won the Sicilian derby 2-1 at the Stadio angelo Massimino this evening, but it was interrupted by crowd trouble and tear gas.

"We won the match on the pitch – or rather both matches, seeing as there was a 30-minute gap – but we cannot enjoy this victory. Football cannot last for much longer like this. There will be no joy in it, there’s no point."

The trouble started when the Palermo fans entered the stadium in the second half. They were set to be let in after 10 minutes, but for reasons that remain unclear the supporters didn’t arrive until almost the hour-mark.

Following Andrea Caracciolo’s goal, flares were thrown from the Catania section towards the Palermo fans and when they fought back the police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

"I don’t know who started it, but I did see what happened since we arrived in Catania," explained a clearly shaken Guidolin.

"We were escorted to and from the hotel for two days by 50 police officers, as if we were in a war zone. I was in the team bus that was pelted with eggs, vegetables and rocks. It’s not possible for this uncivilised treatment in the 21st Century."

The last time these two teams met resulted in a 5-3 Palermo victory and was also marred by crowd trouble.

"We all have to try to calm down the situation around football now. The Press and Coaches must steer away from the banality of their post-match comments that only serve to stir up violence and ill-feeling."

Taking the first step, Guidolin admitted that both Palermo’s goals should probably have been disallowed.

"I hold up my hands – we were aided by two incidents that went our way, just as last week we were damaged by moments going against us. I have never criticised the referee and never will."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Serie A Round 22: Catania 1-2 Palermo

Friday 2 February
Catania 1-2 Palermo
Palermo won this Sicilian derby against Catania at the Stadio Angelo Massimino with two controversial goals but the match was marred by crowd trouble.

Controversial goals from Andrea Caracciolo and David di Michele gave Palermo the spoils, but the game was suspended for 30 minutes after trouble in the stands with tear gas and fireworks thrown onto the pitch.

The derby was brought forward to Friday evening due to concerns over public safety in a clash with the local Sant'Agata celebrations at the weekend and these proved entirely founded as there was trouble before, during and after the game.

After a quiet first half the game burst into life on 55 minutes when Palermo broke the deadlock against the run of play. Mark Bresciano created the goal when he fed Caracciolo inside the box and the big striker slotted home even though he appeared to be in an offside position.

The trouble erupted two minutes after the goal when tear gas, used by police to break up the fighting outside the stadium, drifted onto the field.

A small number of Palermo supporters weren't allowed into the stadium until the second half and when the did finally enter, fireworks were thrown into the area where they were sitting. They fought back and the smoke made it impossible for play to continue, forcing the referee to take both sets of players back into the dressing rooms.

After a lengthy delay the game restarted and within a minute of the restart Catania drew level with a superb volley from Fabio Caserta.

Palermo grabbed the winner seven minutes from time in even more controversial circumstances. Di Michele appeared to handle the ball inside the box when collecting a pass, but the referee allowed the forward to play on and he netted from close-range.

The win helps Palermo close the gap on the top two, but the game is sure to be investigated by the Italian Football Federation as a result of the crowd trouble.

The Palermo fans and the entire squad were kept inside the stadium for several hours after the final whistle, as Catania supporters continued to clash with the police outside.