Italian football suspended following violence in Sicily (3)

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) will meet the government on Monday to decide when Italian football can resume. All domestic and international matches were suspended indefinitely on Friday after a police officer was killed during clashes between fans in Sicily.

CONI met on Sunday to discuss ways to solve the crisis and urged clubs to break off relations with violent fans. Other proposals included forcing clubs to adopt stricter anti-hooligan measures by the start of next season.

CONI President Gianni Petrucci said that if clubs did not agree to the new guidelines - which would see more controls imposed on tickets and an increase in use of closed circuit cameras - they would not be able to host games.

He also confirmed that the planned elections for a new President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) would be postponed, keeping Luca Pancalli in his place for another 9 months. Pancalli was assigned in 2006 after Guido Rossi resigned due to a conflict of interests when he took charge of Telecom Italia.

The FIGC and Italy's Minister of Sport Giovanna Melandri will also be at Monday's meeting.

The plans proposed to the Government will be based around four specific points. Firstly, the immediate implementation of a Federal section used only to check and release licences for stadiums.

Second, refusing the licence of 2007-08 for stadiums that are not up to code for the Legge Pisanu, forcing the clubs to play in another city or behind closed doors.

Extending the coverage of security to the area around the stadiums, where most of the crowd trouble tends to break out, and interrupting the relationship between directors, coaches and players with the Ultra'.

The Legge Pisanu rule was introduced last year and all stadiums were supposed to be up to code before starting this season, but to date only four arenas fit the bill – the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo and the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

The FIGC's extraordinary commissioner Luca Pancalli said the delay in announcing new measures was a sign of respect for the police officer, Filippo Raciti, whose funeral is scheduled for Monday in Sicily.

Pancalli said: "I will not budge from my decision to suspend the championship until Monday after I have discussed important matters with the government. Any decision will in any case be delayed until after the funeral."

The Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has already promised "robust" measures to curb the violence. Prodi called for "a remedy that makes clubs feel responsible and radically changes the situation".

The new UEFA President, Michel Platini, backed the decision to halt football in Italy. He said the violence had deepened concern about hooliganism in football. Platini compared it to recent incidents involving French and Dutch fans, and said everyone involved in football must work together to eradicate violence from the game.

"We must now work together with the Italian football authorities and politicians in support of the Italian game, and find a solution to this spiral of violence that is plaguing European football," he said.

The violence occurred at the Serie A Sicilian derby game between Catania and Palermo. Police fired teargas to control fighting between fans before, during and after Friday's match.

Raciti died from his injuries after a home-made bomb exploded in his face outside Catania's Stadio Angelo Massimino. About 70 people were injured in the clashes, and another police officer is believed to be in a critical condition.

On Saturday police raided several different Catania fan clubs to weed out the more hardline elements. So far 22 people are under arrest.

Prodi told reporters he would hold a meeting on Monday with Interior Minister Giuliano Amato and Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri to agree on "robust" measures against football violence. "We cannot continuously put the lives of police officers at risk," he told reporters on Saturday.

Raciti's death has prompted outrage from Italian politicians and the suspension of all amateur and professional games - including Wednesday's friendly against Romania - by the FIGC.

"A strong signal was needed until we find measures to prevent certain episodes," said Pancalli.

Pancalli had warned earlier this week that more violence would bring a halt to league matches after clashes between supporters and police in several cities last Sunday. "We will immediately set up a commission to discuss the situation between sport and politics. It's not possible to carry on like this."

The head of the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC), Sergio Campana, called for the leagues to be halted for at least a year.

CONI said a minute's silence would be held before all Italian sports events over the weekend.

WATCH NEWS REPORT >>>

Milan in favour of zero tolerance

Carlo Ancelotti and his Milan squad believe the key to beating fan violence is a zero tolerance policy.

"We need to go to the source of the problem and set out rules that will really frighten them," said Massimo Oddo, no stranger to the Ultras after years at Lazio.

"Whoever commits these crimes tends to get arrested and then released the same day. If things remain the same, then of course these pseudo-fans will never be afraid and continue to behave this way."

Coach Ancelotti took an even harder line on the tifosi after a policeman was killed during rioting outside Catania’s Stadio Massimino on Friday.

"I think that above all else we need to implement a zero tolerance policy," noted the tactician. "The police have to be given extra powers."

Although there are also crowd problems in Brazil, Kaka concedes he has no answers for the Italian troubles.

"I am not the right person to say how we are supposed to get out of this situation, but I do hope there will be some strong changes, because we cannot carry on like this."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Politics 'failed calcio'

Giuseppe Pisanu, the man whose law was meant to solve the football violence problem in Italy, has blamed politicians for failing to implement it.

The former Home Office Minister set out the rules to clamp down on crowd trouble, which included CCTV networks in all stadiums, a steward system to take the police out of the Curva and named tickets.

"My original plans were watered down in Parliament and largely changed," accused Pisanu. "I was even accused of trying to be too harsh and would end up damaging the sport this way."

The law was proposed in 2001, but even after it was passed, to date only four Serie A stadiums in Turin, Rome, Milan and Palermo are up to code.

"The opposition to my proposals came from the clubs that did not implement the necessary changes, the extreme ends of the fan spectrum and the politicians who have been aiding and abetting these Ultras."

Agreeing with Pisanu was Mario Pescante, the former President of the CONI, who also believed there was no real clampdown at all.

"The Legge Pisanu was neutered by the clubs who don’t want to spend any of their profits on security," he accused.

"So many stadiums are falling to pieces because the directors said it would be too costly to complete the restructuring work, yet they find the money to spend on star players."

Source: C4 Football Italia

CONI call on clubs to take action

CONI chief Gianni Petrucci has told clubs they must feel part of the process rather than "victims" of fan violence.

The head of the Italian Olympic Committee met with FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli this morning ahead of Monday’s crisis talks with the Government.

All football activity in Italy was suspended on Friday after 38-year-old Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti was killed by rioting Catania fans, although the police have now confirmed they are treating it as a pre-meditated murder rather than a brawl that got out of hand.

"As for when the games will resume, a decision will be made by Commissioner Pancalli after we meet with the Government. It’s only logical, right and necessary to listen to those who set the law."

However, Petrucci warned that even when that happens, fans might still not be allowed in. Only stadiums that are up to code – currently only four in Serie A – will be given licences.

"All stadiums must be ratified so, as it is law and has been for some time, the Legge Pisanu has to be adopted by all clubs. We know full well there are costs involved and that there is a financial crisis, but faced with the loss of human life, none of that can be used as an excuse."

To date only the Stadio Meazza in Milan, Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, the Barbera in Palermo and Rome’s Olimpico pass the tests set out by the Legge Pisanu for CCTV footage, turnstiles and security checks.

The increase in violence has been tipped by many as the reason why attendances are dropping in Serie A this season.

"I understand this may be an inconvenience for fans and clubs alike, but if the games are entertaining and the teams win, then people will return to the stadium. Right now we need to do whatever we can to ensure safety and set out laws so that they will be respected."

Another sore point in the Petrucci-Pancalli meeting concerns the long-standing culture of the Ultras in Italian football, where fan club leaders regularly hold talks with officials and even demand free tickets in exchange for a ‘calm’ match day.

"I hope that the clubs will not have any kind of rapport with the Ultras," continued the CONI chief. “They must recognise that the Olympic Committee contains 43 Federations, but football is the only one where there is constant trouble. We have to work together and that means the clubs need to feel themselves part of the process rather than victims.

"We want the stadiums to be opened up again, not these provoking statements that all football should be suspended for a year to reflect. We shared Pancalli’s decision to halt the championships for this week, but before we do begin again, we must have some guarantees. We can’t just go back to square one because the show must go on."

He also had stern words for the media, directors and Coaches in the wake of Calciopoli.

"This is a wonderful sport that moves people like few others, but when you think you lose only because of the referee and that a victory means you’re stronger than anyone else, it doesn’t help create a sporting culture."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Seeking a cure for Italy's Calcio disease

There were no games in Italy this weekend, no Milan debut for Ronaldo, not even a Sunday league park match. The stadiums and football pitches were empty.

The Italian federation took a decision on Friday night to suspend the league indefinitely after riots at the Sicilian derby between Palermo and Catania.

Fans fought running battles with police and a 38-year-old officer was killed. A total of 29 people were arrested, several of them under the age of 18.

To those who follow Italian football, the violence, while appalling, was not surprising. It is now endemic at Italian stadiums.

There is a growing core of fans for whom the game is incidental - they come to the stadium to fight and many of them come armed.

Investigators say they discovered the remains of crude bombs, weapons and drugs after Friday night's Catania game.
People from all sides of the game have expressed their concern.

The Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said he believed the hooliganism should have been properly dealt with years ago. "We don't practise what we preach," he said. "We've been talking about these incidents for years and they still keep on happening."

So frustrated was Sergio Campana, president of the players' association, that he said the game should stop for a year while it was cleaned up. "If in England they've managed to beat every type of violence, I see no reason why we can't do the same," Mr Campana said.

"In England you see teams that have been relegated applauded by their fans, here our players are hit because they lose one game. I think football should stop for a year in order to reflect on the evils that exist."

Legislation to try to clamp down on violence was introduced over a year ago, including named tickets, more CCTV cameras, extra stewards and body searches at turnstiles.

But flares, bottles and offensive banners are seen regularly at matches in Serie A. Clear evidence, say critics, that security is still not taken seriously.

Some of the violence at the stadiums is political. A study by Italian police two years ago found that of Italy's top 128 professional clubs, 42 had significant political orientations among their fans, with 27 veering significantly to the right and 15 to the far left. When far right meets far left it is never pleasant.

The head of the Italian Football Federation, Luca Pancalli, will meet the government to discuss the problem on Monday.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has demanded a "strong and clear signal". "We need drastic measures to prevent the degeneration of this sport," he said.

Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri says the federation should follow the English solution to hooliganism.

That would mean more CCTV in and around stadiums, tougher sentences for fans convicted of violence and financial penalties for clubs that fail to introduce better safety measures.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), which oversees all the sporting federations in Italy, said Sunday that stadiums whose security was inadequate should be banned from hosting games next season.

Many clubs have so far refused to spend the money because they rent their grounds from the local council.

The new UEFA president Michel Platini has backed the Italian Football Federation's strong stance. "I am deeply concerned," he said. "The violence is creeping back into the European game."

"Violence of any sort is unacceptable and it has absolutely no place in the game of football. We do not condone it, we must not accept it and we must act to eradicate it."

WATCH NEWS REPORT >>>

Source: Christian Fraser, BBC News

Juve chief accepts suspension

Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli agrees that the suspension of football in Italy was "necessary" after the death of a police officer in rioting at Catania.

"This was a necessary decision, an opportune one and we agree with all the reasoning laid out by the FIGC Commissioner," said the Bianconeri representative.

"All the clubs are with us and hope new rules will be introduced quickly. If they are not, then it’ll become very complicated to restart Serie A and B."

Federation Commissioner Luca Pancalli called a halt to all football activity in Italy on Friday night after a police officer was killed during a battle with Catania fans outside the Stadio Massimino.

One of the first objectives set out by the FIGC and CONI in the wake of the tragedy is to cut the "unhealthy" ties between the organised Ultra’ groups and the clubs.

"Our ethical code also refers to this, so as a club we are already trying to take practical steps in this matter," explained Cobolli Gigli.

"Everything can be improved, but we still need this time to receive precise orders from the Government. Everyone must then ensure they work hard to stick by the rules rigorously."

Following the Calciopoli scandal, the media has been increasingly virulent in its portrayal of directors and referees, which the Juventus President sees as a major problem.

"We all have to chip in. First of all, I’d like to see all of us who work in football discipline themselves when giving post-match interviews. With the passion of the game, we sometimes tend to over-step the mark when criticising referees.

"We must remember, as Cesare Prandelli pointed out, that we are playing in a sporting competition here and need to learn how to accept defeat. Our attitude is where it can all begin and we inadvertently influence the immature section of the fanbase."

A meeting between the football authorities and Government Ministers will take place on Monday, but it’s reported they will agree to a two-week hiatus, then another two rounds played behind closed doors.

That would kick off where the season left off, with the Scudetto showdown between Inter and Roma. In theory, though, this match could have a crowd, as the Stadio Meazza is one of only four in Serie A that adhere to the Legge Pisanu regulations.

Another option would be to ban away fans from travelling to games for the rest of the season.

"Clearly away matches created problems and if there were to be a temporary ban decided by the authorities, we would have to take account of it and take this as an opportunity to work on our organisation.

"All the clubs must realise what they need to do within their own fanbase to impose the rules of behaviour and bring these tifosi back to sport, not violence."

Source: C4 Football Italia

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

Lippi puts onus on clubs

Marcello Lippi has given his view on the football-related violence in Italy, suggesting clubs spend more on security and less on strikers.

"I felt very bitter, disoriented and very angry at what happened," he said after a 38-year-old Chief Inspector was killed in rioting in Catania.

"It’s just not possible for football to be associated with such a tragedy. The police know full well who are the men who breed hate, hurl objects and homemade bombs.

"In 1995 we suspended sport for the death of Vincenzo Spagnolo, pledging it would never happen again. Blah, blah, blah and 12 years later we’re back where we started."

It is still not clear when the Championship can resume, but it’s reported that after a fortnight hiatus, the next two rounds will be played behind closed doors.

"FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli did well to call a halt, as we couldn’t pretend nothing had happened, but neither can this in itself solve anything. We’re kidding ourselves if we think so. It pains me to say, but I imagine that in an emergency situation the authorities will consider banning away fans.

"I have an idea, which was inspired by Home Office Minister Giuliano Amato’s warning that the police would no longer be put in danger in stadiums. If I was the President of a club, I’d tell the fans this: I have £3m to spend, but instead of buying you a new striker, I prefer to ‘buy’ your safety.

“I would use that money to pay for a real security service able to guarantee the safety of everyone at games. I might lose a few points in the table, but I’d have more people willing to come to the stadium. It’s a trade I think that’s more than acceptable.”

Italy won the World Cup this summer and remain competitive in the Champions League, but Lippi is not opposed to a harsh judgment to fix the problems once and for all.

"Feyenoord were kicked out of Europe after their fans rioted, so we’d need the same strong signal in Italy. Let’s not forget that after Heysel it was all English clubs, not just Liverpool, who were exiled for five years."

The fact that the worst rioting this season has been in and around Catania, a club that hadn’t been in the top flight for 20 years.

"Without doubt modern society is increasingly aggressive and frightening, but Friday’s events were separate," said Lippi.

"Look at Catania, a side that is promoted to Serie A after a lifetime and challenging for a Champions League place. If its fans aren’t happy there, then when will they be content?"

The finger has also been pointed at the comments that fire up the tifosi throughout the week.

"Without excluding myself, I must say that all the components – and I mean all of them, including the Coaches, directors, media, etc – should take a long hard look at themselves. I heard and read things that literally provoke the crowd.

"Fines aren’t enough any more. If the club is considered responsible for the actions of its fans, then they must be docked points."

The reigning World Cup holders had been the favourites to be assigned the Euro 2012 Championships, but the recent events put a dent in their bid, set to be decided in April.

"The priority ought to be not for a comfortable stadium, but a safe one. Let’s not joke here, prevention and repression are the only systems, just like the English. We need to get the first one to throw even his chewing gum on to the pitch and lock him in prison."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Decisions made "after funeral"

FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli has warned he won’t make any decision on when the football will resume until after Filippo Raciti’s funeral.

"The suspension of the Championships is a decision that I will not budge from until tomorrow, when along with the Government we have faced the most important questions," said the Federation Chief who ordered the immediate cessation of all football activity in Italy following Friday’s riots.

Catania fans caused the death of 38-year-old Chief Inspector Raciti when they ambushed the security officers and visiting Palermo fans outside the Stadio Massimino.

"Any decision will be delayed until after Sunday’s funeral out of respect for Chief Inspector Raciti and his family."

Pancalli sat down with CONI President Gianni Petrucci in an emergency meeting this morning to discuss how the sport would resume after the tragic events of Friday.

"First of all, we renew our efforts to provide for the children of Chief Inspector Raciti," added Petrucci. "The world of sport has today set out, in an agreement between the CONI and FIGC, a series of rules that will be proposed to the Government on Monday."

He also confirmed that the planned elections for a new Federation President would be postponed, keeping Pancalli in his place. Pancalli was assigned in 2006 after Guido Rossi resigned due to a conflict of interests when he took charge of Telecom Italia.

"If the world of football has been unable to take these steps, then we must do it instead," concluded the CONI chief.

The plans proposed to the Government will be based around four specific points. Firstly, the immediate implementation of a Federal section used only to check and release licences for stadiums.

Second, refusing the licence of 2007-08 for arenas that are not up to code for the Legge Pisanu, forcing the clubs to play in another city or behind closed doors.

Extending the coverage of security to the area around the stadiums, where most of the crowd trouble tends to break out, and interrupting the relationship between directors, Coaches and players with the Ultra'.

The Legge Pisanu was introduced last year and all stadiums were supposed to be up to code before starting this season, but to date only four arenas fit the bill – the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, the Stadio Barbera in Palermo and the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Raciti murder "was revenge"

The police are now suggesting that Filippo Raciti was targeted in a revenge killing for acting as a witness in the trial of a Catania Ultra’.

The 38-year-old policeman was killed during riots that surrounded the Stadio Massimino while Catania-Palermo was played inside.

An autopsy has now confirmed he died from massive liver damage. "The cause of death is clear," announced the MD.

It was already known that the Catania fans staged an ambush on the arriving Palermo fans and police force, but a frightening new theory has come to light – the football match was merely an excuse to exact revenge on the Chief Inspector.

"In the last few weeks, Filippo had acted as a key witness in the trial of a Catania Ultra’ accused of violence in the last derby at Palermo. He was the one who nailed him, reconstructing the events of another nightmare evening," explained police colleague Claudio Anzalone.

"Filippo told me how things unfolded. That lad, who got a suspended sentence, left the court laughing at him and hurling insults. Now this incident could really mean something, even if nobody listened to our warnings before."

This theory would fit in with the sequence of events on Friday evening at the Stadio Massimino.

The Palermo fans did not arrive until the second half and it was here that the trouble erupted, when Catania supporters waiting outside the stadium began their ambush.

Raciti, one of the policemen escorting the visiting fans, was struck in the chest by a rock and then a homemade bomb was thrown at his car.

"We can confirm that there was no involvement of the Palermo fans," said Catania police chief Ignazio Fonzo.

"The riot was solely created by pseudo-Catania supporters, real delinquents with a premeditated action of extreme violence. It’s a little early to talk today about a premeditated and targeted murder, however."

More evidence suggests this may have been revenge for the first derby match between the sides earlier this season, won 5-3 by Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on September 20, 2006.

Raciti had been placed in a desk job for the past few months, but became restless and at his request was returned to duty at football matches just over a week ago.

The tension expected in the derby may well have given the criminals the perfect excuse to commit murder disguised as football-related violence.

Last night the police raided several different Catania fan clubs to weed out the more hardline elements. So far 22 people are under arrest.

Source: C4 Football Italia