UEFA: San Siro opens for business

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza should reopen to spectators in time for Milan’s next Champions League fixture, according to UEFA.

The stadium was not included in the list of stadia shown the green light by the Government last week, thus fuelling speculation that Inter and Milan had asked UEFA to play their home ties elsewhere.

However, work carried out on Friday night allowed 28 new turnstiles to be installed at the San Siro, bringing the arena closer to the Legge Pisanu requirements, while the rest of the work should be completed within the next two weeks.

Rossoneri season ticket holders – numbering 37,297 fans – were therefore allowed access to the stadium for Sunday’s match with Livorno, an important test according to UEFA spokesman William Gaillard.

"What happened over the weekend was a good dress rehearsal and I anticipate that there will be a normal capacity crowd for the game between Milan and Celtic on March 7," the official said in an interview with BBC Radio FiveLive.

"It was played in front of season ticket holders only because they were trying the new turnstiles," added the spokesman.

"Things went well, the turnstiles were installed successfully and, at this stage, we cannot foresee why the game will need to be moved to another location," concluded Gaillard.

UEFA chief Michel Platini held talks with the FIGC on Friday and discussions will continue throughout the week.

European football’s governing body is hoping to reach an agreement over the venue of the Euro 2008 qualifier with Scotland on March 28, as original hosts Bari also failed to meet the necessary safety requirements.

"I believe both Inter and Milan will play their Champions League matches at the San Siro, once more turnstiles are installed. That is what we requested and we hope we will play in front of our supporters," declared Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani.

Inter are scheduled to host Valencia on February 21 and reports suggest that the stadium will be open to fans on that occasion as well, although possibly with a reduced capacity.

Source: C4 Football Italia

Napoli eager to reopen

Napoli are desperate to open the Stadio San Paolo to season ticket holders as soon as possible, according to director general Pierpaolo Marino.

The stadium was not included in the list of venues allowed to host spectators after the new safety laws were implemented and the Azzurri were forced to face Piacenza on Saturday in an empty arena.

"We have been working for about a year to renovate the facility in order for it to meet the safety measures," Marino told Radio Anch'io Sport.

"I don’t know when we will be able to reopen, but we are doing all we can to allow our season ticket holders to return to the stands as soon as possible," added the official.

Napoli’s stadium, as well as many others all over the peninsula, had bypassed the 2005 Legge Pisanu thanks to a special permit granted by the local Chief of Police, but that was revoked after last week’s events in Catania.

"We had been granted a pass, but we had kept on working hard nonetheless, agreeing to pay in advance as the town council did not have the money," explained Marino.

"We have ordered the turnstiles needed and they should be delivered shortly. The revocation of the permission we had been granted obviously created some problems.

"In the meantime, we will refund season ticket holders for the matches they will not be allowed to attend, although I don’t think money is the problem.

"The real damage, that cannot be refunded in any way, is that they will not be able to be close to the team," concluded the club official.

Source: C4 Football Italia