Pancalli hails calcio revival

FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli has hailed this weekend’s games as "a victory of the common fan over the hooligans."

He ordered the immediate suspension of all football activity in Italy last week following the death of Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti in the Catania riot.

With new security measures in place and stadiums opened only if they passed the strict standards, Serie A and B were able to resume without incident.

"I saw today as the first day of school," he told Sky Italia. "We are beginning again, but it’s not enough. We have to promote an educational process allowing the nation to experience football as sport again."

Although there was no violence, there were unsavoury incidents, as the minute’s silence was not respected by a section of Ultras at Roma and Torino.

"There were only a small minority and their jeers were drowned out by the applause of the majority. The real fans won over the hooligans today and that too was a positive sign. There is the desire to change and we have to push forward."

While some have urged the introduction of the so-called ‘English model’ of policing football-related violence, Pancalli points out that isn’t possible.

"The British judicial system is very different to ours. I have always said that we cannot simply adopt another model entirely. Their experience is important, but we have to find our path suitable for our magistrates.

"I have great faith in the future. I think that today can change something, because I see the responsibility of the directors and the people. The fans are convincing me we are on the right road. The new rules may seem rigid, but the gravity of the situation demanded it for the greater good."

He also hinted that the clubs will soon be able to take control of the stadiums – which are currently leased out by the local councils – and therefore impose different security measures.

However, Pancalli’s reign will come to an end within the next couple of months. He is only the Extraordinary Commissioner following Guido Rossi’s resignation and UEFA have demanded a democratically elected President of the Federation if Italy are to proceed with their Euro 2012 bid.

"I thought it opportune to fly to Nyon and explain the situation to UEFA. In these weeks I have read how our rivals have presented our nation and our football. Italy is coming out of a grave crisis, but transforming it into an opportunity," he continued.

"I verified with Michel Platini that the Federation will have a democratically elected President before the Euro 2012 decision on April 18. The statutes are clear on this and we must respect them, although I confirm that I am not a candidate.

"Our project is a committed and credible one in which two new stadiums will be built and six restructured, all without extra cost to the State beyond the £13m already agreed."

The other shortlisted contenders for the Euro 2012 games are Poland-Ukraine and Croatia-Hungary.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Catania appeal to the public

Catania are still waiting to hear the repercussions of last week’s riots and have written an open letter to the city so they may come together to lock out the hooligans.

All football activity in Italy was suspended for a week when Catania Ultras caused the death of police officer Filippo Raciti outside the Stadio Massimino during the derby against Palermo.

Play resumes this afternoon in Serie A, although there is another very high risk local clash against Messina on the fixture list.

"Catania’s healthy sporting culture, which represents the vast majority of our fans, must stand by our side during these difficult times we are forced to face together," read a statement from the club.

"It must begin from an incessant and active transmission of positive values that, only when all done together, we can take to its goal."

There was also a word of condolence to the widow of Chief Inspector Raciti and his family, whose funeral was held in Catania on Monday.

As the Massimino had already received a two-match ban due to earlier crowd trouble this season, the sanctions on the club could be extremely heavy.

"We just ask one thing to everyone who identifies with this club – we want to bring football to Catania, rejoicing and suffering along with the healthy side of our citizens. We will never give in. Do not leave us alone!"

Yet the Sicilian derby is already wrapped in tension ahead of kick-off this afternoon, as Messina’s Stadio San Filippo has not been given the go-ahead to welcome fans despite being considered acceptable under the Legge Pisanu directives.

With this in mind, several Messina season ticket holders have threatened legal action for being locked out of the match.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Arrigoni feels for Livorno fans

Livorno tactician Daniele Arrigoni is concerned that the increased security measures will damage the majority of well behaved fans most of all.

"I consider it a shame that those good supporters who just want to follow their favourite team are the ones who are penalised," said the coach.

The rioting in Catania on February 2, where a police officer lost his life, prompted a rethink of stadium security in Italy.

Although the San Siro is not up to standard yet, overnight work to install 28 turnstiles means the arena has been passed safe for the 38,000 Milan season ticket holders.

Unfortunately for Livorno, this means they will have only Rossoneri supporters in the stands and none of their own tifosi.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Colomba proud of Sant'Elia

Cagliari will be able to let the fans in for today’s game against Siena and coach Franco Colomba believes Sardinia should be proud.

"The fact that the Stadio Sant’Elia is up to standard should be a source of pride for the President and all the city," said the tactician.

Only six stadiums have so far been fully cleared under new security measures brought in after the death of a police officer in the Catania riots, although the San Siro can let in season ticket holders this weekend following emergency work to install turnstiles.

It’s an important match for Cagliari and they will need the support of their fans after a disappointing defeat with Reggina.

"We’ll be facing a very organised Siena side with some excellent individual talents upfront," continued Colomba.

"It will be key to take control of the midfield and immediately set our tempo on the game. Diego Lopez is undoubtedly a big player for us, but I am convinced that Joe Bizera will ensure he is not missed."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Guidolin wants new approach

Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin has urged fans in the Stadio Barbera to change their chanting styles.

A minute’s silence is held before every game this weekend for 38-year-old Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti, but in Italy the crowd usually shows respect by applauding.

"I hope that the minute’s silence on Sunday is truly that," he said. "I also trust that from now on we will no longer hear those vicious chants against opponents, but instead focus on cheering on their own teams. A different civic education is needed."

Sicily was the flashpoint that forced sweeping changes to the security checks in Italian stadiums, although Palermo’s Renzo Barbera is one of only six – seven counting just the Milan season ticket holders at San Siro – that are cleared to welcome fans this weekend.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Mancini blames World Cup venues

Roberto Mancini points out that the real fault for the stadium situation stretches back to the 1990 World Cup.

"It has been a terrible week for everyone who loves football," said the Inter Coach after the death of a police officer in the Catania riots on February 2.

The tragic incidents pushed the Government to clamp down on security measures, which means shutting some venues until they can be brought up to standard.

The Stadio Bentegodi is one of them, so the Nerazzurri will play Chievo in a deserted arena this afternoon.

"Our newest stadiums were finished in May 1990 for the World Cup, but by September they were already out of date. You could see even then that they weren’t built for people and in my view are some of the worst in the world."

Many of the 1990 arenas were built with athletics tracks so that they warranted extra grants, but over the years they have hardly ever been used, instead serving only to distance the fans from the field.

The Stadio Delle' Alpi in Turin is a prime example that will be completely restructured this year to remove the track and reduce the capacity.

"This is the problem and the clubs must be helped by the councils to make things right. However, I absolutely don’t agree with those who called for football to be halted indefinitely. There is bitterness, yes, but we must not generalise about the fans."

Source: C4 Football Italia

Atalanta protest clampdown

Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono and President Ivan Ruggeri feel the season will be "falsified" by the ban on supporters in some stadiums.

"I totally agree with a security clampdown on violent hooligans, but it’s not right to penalise everyone," said the tactician.

Only six stadiums – plus San Siro for season ticket holders only – in Serie A will be able to let supporters in to the stands today after passing strict new laws, but Atalanta will face Lazio in a deserted Stadio Azzurri d’Italia.

"The decision to have some matches with the public and some not is not the correct way to go about this and I think it casts a shadow of the regularity of this championship."

President Ruggeri was even more damning of the ruling that forces the Orobici to play behind closed doors.

"Today will be the real test, not just for Atalanta, and I hope we can all be happy and relaxed by the evening," said the patron.

"I am worried and told the authorities as much. There is the risk that some delinquent won’t accept the clampdown. In my view the best solution was either all the stadiums were open or they were all closed. This is falsifying the championship.

"For example, Roma playing at the Stadio Olimpico with a crowd makes a real difference to the performances. As a club we are not at fault and perhaps the signal sent out by the powers that be was too heavy-handed."

The Legge Pisanu was introduced over a year ago, but the clubs had been given extension orders from the local councils – all scrapped in the wake of Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti’s death in the Catania riots.

"We had been assured we had until June to complete the work, now there are companies taking advantage of the hurry to increase their prices for the restructuring," insisted Ruggeri.

"In the next week we will have completed the pre-filtering area around the stadium, but the rest won’t be finished until May. I understand it was a shock, but everything changed in 24 hours and previous legal agreements were torn up."

Source: C4 Football Italia