Posted February 2, 200718 yr The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has called off all this weekend's Serie A and Serie B games after a policeman was killed at a match on Friday. A 38-year-old officer died as violence flared during and after the Serie A game between Sicilian rivals Catania and Palermo, which Palermo won 2-1. The game had already been given an early evening slot on Friday because of fears over public safety. FIGC has now cancelled the weekend's other games in the top two divisions. The game was suspended after an hour when tear gas, used by police to break up the fighting outside the ground, drifted onto the field. There was fighting outside the ground, reported ANSA news agency, because Palermo fans could not get into Catania's Stadio Massimino until the second half. The two teams fled the pitch for the dressing-room, with the game suspended for 30 minutes. Palermo had taken the lead through Andrea Caracciolo, but Catania equalised within 60 seconds of the teams coming back out thanks to Fabio Caserta. Palermo won the game with a controversial David di Michele goal in the 83rd minute.
February 2, 200718 yr A home made bomb apparently :wacko: And they have the nerve to call football hooliganism the British Disease :rolleyes:
February 2, 200718 yr channel4.com Players urge year-long suspension Friday 2 February, 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Players’ Association 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 policeman was killed in the battles with Catania supporters following Palermo’s 2-1 victory at the Stadio Massimino. At the moment it is unclear when the fixture list will resume, but the Players Association 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 last time Serie A ground to a halt over fan violence was on February 5, 1995, when Genoa supporter Vincenzo Spagnolo was stabbed to death ahead of a match against Milan. “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.†The Sicilian derby was the final straw in a situation that has been growing in the peninsula. In March 2004 the Rome derby was abandoned at half-time after reports – which later proved to be false – suggested a child had been run over and killed by a police van outside the Stadio Olimpico. This claim prompted extreme tension and riots. The most tragic incident was only last week, when Sammartinese director Ermanno Licursi died from a brain haemorrhage when a fight broke out between opposition players in the Calabrian amateur League. It emerged he had been kicked in the head.
February 2, 200718 yr The should kick the scum out of UEFA & FIFA, i f***ing deteste them. Only English fans use fists!!! don't hear of an English fan throwing an explosive in a coppers face or even knifeing an opposition fan
February 3, 200718 yr It really irritates me how the level of violence and hooliganism in Italy, Holland, Germany & Spain is worse than what it is in England. Yet it is known as the "English disease".
February 3, 200718 yr well if there aren't expulsions from the European competitions and no fines or points docking I shall be more than disgraced. To an extent this is worse than Juve's crimes, send them to Serie C.
February 3, 200718 yr Shame...! I've not words to tell u my rage against this kinda "people",if we can call them so... Football should b something different...nowadays it's just violence...what a shame...! Just...disgusting... :puke2:
February 3, 200718 yr Always Italian fans and their firms, most countries want the tag as ''Hooligan fans'' cos they think it's big and hard. It's why Italian leagues attendances is $h!t
February 3, 200718 yr Always Italian fans and their firms, most countries want the tag as ''Hooligan fans'' cos they think it's big and hard. It's why Italian leagues attendances is $h!t Championship attendances are higher than Serie A :cheer: And that and Premiership ones are going to improve now that everyone is so aware at how high the ticket prices are thus clubs will be under pressure to put them down. ^_^ I can't believe all this happens in Italy though :( In the past few years we've caused trouble at Euro 2000 with our national team and Leeds fans were victims in Turkey and that's it for English fans.. I think they call it the English disease because of what Liverpool fans did in the 80's against Juventus.
February 3, 200718 yr To be fair we were the first country to be recognised for it. But we got a deserved European ban for it and it's now under control. I'm sure they'll recieve the correct punishment too. Afterall, Feyernoord were kicked out of the UEFA cup so they will punish.
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