Clampdown on Ultras

The new laws to combat football-related violence will include games behind closed doors, the end of away tickets sold in bulk and tougher punishment.

Although the decree has not been voted on or the details yet confirmed, rumours are emerging on what the Government and football authorities worked out in today’s meetings.

One point had already been mentioned by Minister for Sport Giovanna Melandri, as stadiums will not be allowed to host games with fans in the stands until they have passed the Legge Pisanu tests.

The new law "annuls with immediate effect" all existing ‘passes’ handed out by the local councils to delay the implementation of the Pisanu recommendations. Currently, only Palermo, Rome, Turin and Siena would be able to host matches, the others would play behind closed doors.

Another section to the law introduced after Catania fans killed a police officer during Friday’s riots outside the Stadio Massimino involves reducing the number of away supporters travelling en masse.

The clubs that organise games can no longer sell "directly or indirectly" a block of tickets to the away teams. One person cannot buy more than 10 tickets.

Violation of this order would result in a fine from £6,500 to £99,000. Importantly, this rule is retroactive, so any tickets bought in bulk up until now will "no longer be valid."

The police and magistrates will be given more sweeping powers in their treatment of hooligans.

The so-called Daspo – a banning order restricting fans with convictions from attending matches – will be increased to a maximum of seven years and become effective even if the person is only suspected of having participated in football-related violence. Violation of this order could result in a six month to three year prison sentence and a fine up to £6,500.

Police can now arrest a hooligan "in flagrante" up to 48 hours after the event, an extension from the current 36 hours. This defines people caught on camera committing violent acts.

Up until now, the fast-track judicial system only applied to those who were caught throwing dangerous objects or invading the pitch, but the new law extends that to people found in possession of fireworks, smoke bombs or other "pyrotechnic articles."

There will be a stronger clampdown on police clashes, as the minimum prison sentence for resisting arrest or attacking an officer will rise from the current three years to five, while the maximum remains 15.

The terms of the offence also extend to "the throwing of objects, including pyrotechnic articles, to put people in danger."

The Government is also eager to end the close ties between clubs and the Ultra' groups, as those found to have "aided and abetted" people involved in football-related violence can be charged.

There could also be the confiscation of assets from those who "help, in any way, the activities of those who take part in violent acts during sporting events."

The Government will discuss the law on Wednesday, while on Thursday inspections will be carried out to decide which stadiums can host matches.

Source: C4 Football Italia

The dark heart of Italian football

Richard Williams of Guardian Unlimited asks if the tragedy in Catania last Friday will finally bring a change to the dark heart of Italian football...

" They let Simone Barbaglia out of prison just before Christmas. Twelve years ago last week, when he was a 19-year-old apprentice gardener, he used a borrowed butterfly knife, its 11cm blade unfolded from the twin halves of its hinged wooden handle, to stab Claudio Vincenzo Spagnolo - "Spagna" to his friends - to death outside the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa, before a match against Milan.

Four days later more than 10,000 people turned up outside the church for the funeral of Spagnolo, an unemployed 24-year-old who had been among a group of Genoa supporters confronted by, or confronting, members of a gang of Milan supporters who called themselves the Gruppo Barbour, after their fondness for the British-made waxed jackets. Leaving his victim in a pool of blood on the pavement, Barbaglia swapped clothes with another member, hid the knife in a wine carton and entered the stadium.

Not until Monday morning, when he was back home in Milan, did the police arrive at his mother's apartment. By that time the entire Italian sporting programme for the following weekend had been cancelled. Only a Davis Cup tie in Naples against the Czech Republic was allowed to continue, so as not to inconvenience Italy's opponents.
Some people were critical. "This is a decision taken with the heart rather than the head - it isn't a solution," said Gianni Rivera, a Milan hero turned politician. But Italy's recently elected prime minister, Lamberto Dini, said that, if football could not reform itself, he would do the job.

In Genoa that week, having stood among the thousands of scarves and bunches of flowers left at the site of the murder, I drove to Sampdoria's training ground and talked to David Platt, who had just returned from attending Spagnolo's funeral. The cancellation, he said, at least showed that the matter was being taken seriously.

"What it actually does apart from that, I'm not sure," he continued. "The underlying feeling is that, yes, it's right to postpone the games because it sends the message that we don't support this kind of thing and that there is something bigger than football. But I don't think that by itself it's going to stop hooliganism in Italy."

A year or so before Spagnolo's death Vanessa Redgrave compared the experience of watching a big match at San Siro to an opening night at La Scala. Amid the furs and the cashmeres of the president's box you could see how she came to that conclusion. But she would have needed only to turn her head 45 degrees, in either direction, to witness scenes that more closely resembled the Circus Maximus.

The extremes of Italian football - expressed again last summer in a World Cup final victory that, as well as scenes of glory, included Marco Materazzi's provocation of Zinedine Zidane - may have something to do with the sort of tensions that exploded in Catania last Friday night, when the killing of a policeman, Filippo Raciti, prompted the latest cancellation of a weekend's matches. The roots of such an incident certainly go deeper than a simple rivalry between two Sicilian cities.

Italy has given so much to world football that it is painful to see the nightmare recurring. As any reader of John Foot's excellent book Calcio will be aware, however, the history of violence and corruption goes back a long way. The question must be whether the murder of a policeman last Friday is the incident that finally persuades Italian football to attempt a fresh start.

In England the game's second chance was partly paid for in Italian blood when the combination of Heysel, Bradford and Hillsborough achieved a kind of critical mass. The subsequent bourgeoisification of English football, accelerated by the invention of the Premiership, created the conditions in which ticket prices could be raised so high that, combined with effective security precautions, they eventually deterred hooligans, whose violent activities have largely been displaced, in a diluted form, to the lower divisions.

In Italy, by contrast, you can still turn up at a Serie A match and buy a ticket for less than a tenner. A cursory search at the turnstile is unlikely to reveal the flare taped to your inner thigh. Inside the stadium the facilities are rudimentary and your activities will be neither observed by the kind of closed-circuit cameras that scan every inch of an English stadium nor supervised by any kind of rigorous stewarding.

Municipal ownership of Italian club stadiums is partly to blame. When you don't own your home, you are less likely to mind what happens there. But one thing the Italians must do is start to police matches properly - which means more than just shepherding the away fans to the train station after the match.

The unhealthy relationship between the clubs and their hard-core fans also needs modifying. If Luca Pancalli, Italy's football commissioner, can find a way of dismantling the influence of the "ultra" groups, who receive tickets and travel benefits from the clubs and expect a blind eye to be turned to their less savoury activities in return for their loyalty, he will have taken a step towards ensuring that the tragic death of Filippo Raciti, unlike that of Claudio Spagnolo, was not entirely in vain. "

Source: Guardian Unlimited

Calcio reaches compromise?

The crisis talks between Government and football authorities have concluded and the season is set to resume this weekend, but only in stadiums that are up to code.

"There was a climate of great collaboration," explained FIGC Extraordinary Commissioner Luca Pancalli.

"We will decide when to get back on to the pitch after tomorrow’s Government meeting and on Thursday the security forces will tell us which stadiums can re-open."

The get-together saw Interior Minister Giuliano Amato, Sport Minister Giovanna Melandri, Vice-Minister for Sport Marco Minniti and Police Chief Gianni De Gennaro discuss the situation with FIGC Commissioner Pancalli, Vice-Commissioner Gigi Riva, Lega Calcio President Antonio Matarrese, Vice-President Rosella Sensi and Serie C Lega President Mario Macalli.

"I wouldn’t talk about this as a victory just yet, but the air is changing in our direction," smiled Matarrese, who had pushed strongly for the season to begin again this weekend.

The meeting concluded at around 21.00 local time with all parties seeming confident that the season would resume within the next few days.

However, there remains a warning from the Minister for Sport on what conditions the football will be allowed to continue.

"The stadiums that do not fit the standards set out by the Legge Pisanu will not be used," noted Melandri.

That suggests the games set in arenas that have not yet passed the tests for CCTV networks, turnstiles, electronic ticketing and a pre-filtering area will be played behind closed doors.

It would be a heavy blow to Serie A, where only four stadiums currently fit the bill – the Olimpico in Rome, Palermo’s Renzo Barbera, the Artemio Franchi in Siena and Olimpico in Turin.

Cagliari, Empoli, Messina, Parma, Reggio Calabria and Genoa are almost completed and may be granted a temporary court order to allow fans into some or all sections.

Milan, Livorno and Florence are further back in the work needed to qualify under the Legge Pisanu.

All other stadiums in Serie A will not be allowed to let fans in for the foreseeable future, including Udine, Catania and Bergamo.

"We have all of a sudden been told that we don’t have the authority to play in our stadium," snapped Atalanta President Ivan Ruggeri.

"It seems a bizarre situation, because we still don’t know if it’s the club or the local council who must pay for this restructuring work. If there are no fans or the order to play behind closed doors, we simply won’t go ahead."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Zamparini fails to oust Matarrese

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini demanded Antonio Matarrese’s resignation as President of Lega Calcio, but was horrified to find he was alone.

"Today I will ask for Matarrese’s letter of resignation as President of the Lega Calcio," said Zamparini ahead of the meeting of clubs in Rome.

"It’s not because of the comments he made about deaths in football being inevitable, but the more serious matter of his absence at the table to discuss the future of the sport. That was an important meeting with the Government, FIGC and CONI, but we were not represented."

Representatives from the authorities came together to discuss how to proceed after the death of Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti in the Catania-Palermo riots on Friday, but the sides themselves held their own separate emergency meeting.

"The politicians discussed football without talking to the main protagonists. We were the only ones missing from that table and it’s inadmissible. What do these Ministers know of sport?"

However, when Zamparini emerged from the Fiumicino hall, it was with Matarrese confirmed in his place.

"I made the first step, but nobody followed me," he revealed. "We made other progress, as all clubs put aside £6,000 for the family of the policeman who was killed."

The Rosanero patron also confirmed Adriano Galliani’s suggestion that Serie A would resume this weekend.

"The only thing wrong we saw in the proposals was the idea of playing behind closed doors. Everyone agrees that we should restart this Sunday, although it will only be decided on Wednesday."

The Stadio Renzo Barbera is one of only four Italian stadiums that would today pass the Legge Pisanu requirements for turnstiles, CCTV and a pre-filtering area.

"Palermo are ready to guarantee safety, with or without fans. The only error the Government made was not listening to those at the centre of football."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Galliani: Sunday service for Serie A

Serie A will resume on Sunday with the Week 23 fixtures, according to Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani.

Football in Italy was suspended indefinitely on Friday night after the death of a police officer, with the Week 22 Serie A games being postponed after the Catania-Palermo riots.

But the Lega Calcio held an informal assembly on Tuesday and decided to approve the proposal of playing next weekend, even if FIGC commissioner Luca Pancalli will need to ratify the decision after a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"We will play the matches scheduled for Week 23 on Sunday," said the former Lega Calcio chief after leaving the meeting. "Last weekend’s Serie A games will take place on April 18, whereas Serie B will play on April 17."

The big match between Inter and Roma scheduled at the San Siro last Sunday will therefore be played in mid April, thus probably causing the first leg of the Coppa Italia Final to be postponed.

Catania chief Antonino Pulvirenti confirmed Galliani’s words by insisting that there was no tug of war with the Government. "We agree with the Government and want to start playing again on Sunday," he underlined.

It’s unclear at this stage whether fans will be allowed to attend games which do not satisfy the necessary stadium regulations.

The Week 23 round of games will include another Sicilian derby as Messina host Catania at the Stadio San Filippo.

Source: C4 Football Italia

How the stadiums currently rate…

Only four Serie A stadiums currently satisfy the safety regulations that would allow them to re-open to fans.

Footballing activities are expected to resume this weekend after the tragic events in Catania, but several clubs could be forced to play behind closed doors until their arenas are renovated to comply with the norms.

Former Home Office Minister Giuseppe Pisanu had introduced new rules last year which were meant to increase safety inside the stadiums.

However, only Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo and the Stadio Olimpico in Turin comply. Siena's Stadio Artemio Franchi would also receive the green light.

Up to standards
Rome
Turin
Siena
Palermo

Almost up to standards
Cagliari: The pre-filtering area has yet to be completed, there are turnstiles although they are not used.
Empoli: Turnstiles will be installed shortly, but there is no pre-filtering area.
Messina: CCTV cameras and turnstiles have been installed, but there is no video surveillance.
Parma: The turnstiles are old and the pre-filtering system is incomplete.
Reggio Calabria: Video surveillance available, but no pre-filtering area.
Genoa: Everything has been installed, but there is still no dedicated Police station.

Renovations in progress
Florence: Turnstiles installed only in the Curva Fiesole, no video surveillance and no pre-filtering area.
Milan: There are no turnstiles and no pre-filtering area.
Livorno: There is no electronic ticket system. There are turnstiles and a pre-filtering area.

Not up to standards
Ascoli: There are no turnstiles and no pre-filtering area.
Bergamo: There are no turnstiles and no video surveillance.
Catania: There are no turnstiles and no electronic ticket system.
Verona: There are no turnstiles and no electronic ticket system.
Udine: There are no turnstiles and no video surveillance.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Viareggio youth tournament to kick off calcio

Italian football will resume on Wednesday with the Viareggio youth tournament, but talks over the Serie A and B restarts continue.

Matches at all levels were suspended on Friday after the death of a policeman who was on duty during the Catania-Palermo derby, but it seems that we are close to starting the season again.

The Italian Football Federation have today confirmed that the 59th edition of the prestigious Viareggio youth tournament will start tomorrow.

The competition, which was due to kick off on Monday, was postponed after the Catania tragedy and will therefore start from Matchday 2, with 12 games scheduled for Wednesday.

The Matchday 1 games will be rescheduled and will probably be played on February 12, whereas the opening ceremony and the athletes’ oath – set to be read by Roma captain Francesco Totti – have been cancelled.

The Viareggio go-ahead has fuelled speculation that all matches will resume over the weekend, although numerous clubs could be playing behind closed doors because of tighter stadium safety regulations.

"We are all ready to resume football, but a decision will be finalised on Wednesday," said Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini after the Lega Calcio meeting on Tuesday.

"We agree on banning the block sale of tickets to away fans for games, this should avoid problems as to public order," added the Rosanero.

"We have instead stated that we do not like the idea of playing behind closed doors, because we are sure that clubs can guarantee security if there are no away supporters.

"At this point, every single Head of Police can decide if the stadiums fit the bill or not," concluded Zamparini.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Clubs stage fan protest

A number of Serie A clubs have hit out at the new stadium regulations which would see thousands of fans locked out of matches.

Italy’s Interior Minister Giuliano Amato confirmed on Monday that clubs whose stadiums do not meet the required safety standards will be forced to play games behind closed doors.

At present, only five Serie A arenas are up to code, but as many as 10 could be given the green light to stage games if no away fans were permitted access.

"This is a blow for us," stated Udinese President Franco Soldati. "We have 14,000 season ticket holders, who will safeguard them and protect them?"

The Stadio Friuli is currently one of the stadia which doesn’t entirely comply with the Pisanu law, while Cagliari have admitted that their Stadio Sant’Elia also falls short.

"Many things work here, but we have not yet connected the CCTV network with the turnstiles," stated the Rossoblu club.

Although all outfits are obviously keen for the authorities to eradicate violence from the game, not all are happy with the drastic fan measures which may now be put into place.

"Football without spectators is not football," noted Livorno director general Renato Cipollini. "This decision represents everyone’s defeat, we are surrendering to violence.

"The only ones who will pay are the real supporters, not those who use football as an excuse for violence."

Roma director general Rosella Sensi has accepted that the decision to ban crowds from stadiums is unpopular, but necessary.

"The Presidents do not like the idea, we will all have to do what can be done to renovate the stadiums," she said.

"In any case, we have to accept our responsibilities because we all want things to improve."

FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli will decide whether Serie A will resume this weekend after a special government cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Cairo: Stadiums must fit bill

Torino President Urbano Cairo is convinced that the starting point in combating football violence is represented by appropriate stadiums.

The club chiefs will meet in Rome for an extraordinary Lega Calcio assembly on Tuesday, after the riots in Catania on Friday night claimed the life of policeman Filippo Raciti.

"We need to start from the stadiums, police safety needs to be guaranteed," said Cairo.

"That is the only way for spectators and real fans to watch the match without having to worry," added the Granata official.

"We have to renovate the stadiums, even if this is expensive, that is the starting point.

"With regard to us, we have been paying for 330 stewards for each Torino game. I don’t think we can do much more than that," concluded Cairo.

Italian Football Federation chief Luca Pancalli confirmed that matches could technically resume this weekend if the new safety measures are approved by the Italian Government.

Stadia which do not meet safety regulations will have to stage games behind closed doors.

Interior Minister Giuliano Amato addressed Parliament on Tuesday, when he confirmed that the number of casualties among policemen has increased since 2004.

Amato also reiterated that there will be a zero tolerance policy and that no dispensation will be granted to clubs whose stadiums do not respect the current safety norms.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Moratti eyes Government pact

Inter President Massimo Moratti insists that an alliance between the football authorities and the Italian Government is the only way to fight violence.

Footballing activities at all levels were suspended after police inspector Filippo Raciti was killed on Friday and the authorities will decide on Wednesday when the Championships will resume.

Presently, it seems that clubs will be forced to play behind closed doors until their stadiums meet current safety standards, while new rules will be put into place to stop the block sale of tickets to away fans for games.

"I think we need a prevention plan similar to the English one studied by both the Government and the football authorities," said Moratti in an interview with La Repubblica.

"This would be a strong signal, we have to work alongside the Government and create a pact," added the oil tycoon.

There are also measures in the pipeline to outlaw any kind of relationship between clubs and their Ultra' fan groups. Moratti is in favour of such a ploy after admitting that some club Presidents have been held to ransom by extreme supporters in the past.

"We have all made our mistakes previously, but in our case I can say that we finally cleaned things up," he added.

"Interior Minister Giuliano Amato and Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri are right when they state that the main problem is represented by public order.

"Now I believe politics must help us, football is being used as an instrument of violence and that is not what it is meant for."

Moratti was also asked to comment on Antonio Matarrese’s statement that the show must go on, no matter what.

"If Matarrese said that he was definitely wrong. However, I cannot condemn words that I did not hear personally," he concluded.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Matarrese: I was misunderstood

Lega Calcio chief Antonio Matarrese has denied saying that deaths are inevitable in Italian football.

The former FIGC President allegedly made the astonishing comments in an interview with La Repubblica newspaper yesterday, in which he added that matches should be resumed with immediate effect after the death of police officer Filippo Raciti on Friday.

Matarrese’s ‘show must go on’ stance was widely condemned, especially by members of the Italian Olympic Committee and the Italian Government.

But the Bari official has insisted he was misinterpreted after releasing an official statement distancing himself from the quotes.

"That statement does not belong to me," said Matarrese. "I have read what I allegedly said and I understand the bewilderment and indignation it caused.

"If I had really made those statements and those words belonged to me, the reactions should have been even more furious," continued the note.

"However, if you listen carefully to the radio interview to Radio Capital, you can clearly see that I only meant to highlight the fact that we have had many deaths due to violence in football.

"I never thought that these should be justified or that we should accept them with resignation.

"Instead, football clubs intend to fight all forms of violence – inside and outside the stadiums," concluded Matarrese.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi had described the alleged comments as pure insanity.

Source: C4 Football Italia