Italian soccer riots throws entire league system in limbo

The weekend's Serie A matches have been cancelled after a policeman was killed outside Catania's stadium following their 2-1 loss to Palermo, Italian Football Federation President Luca Pancalli announced on Friday.

Riots erupted after Friday's controversial Sicilian derby resulting in hundreds of injuries and the death of a policeman after an explosive device was reportedly thrown at him.

Earlier in the week Pancalli said he was willing to do what it takes to stop the hooliganism after last weekend's Italian matches were marred by violence.

"We are on high alert. To defend referees and the image of football, I am ready to take drastic measures," he said at the time.

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The Serie A and B Championships have been suspended after the death of a policeman in the Catania riots.

FIGC President Luca Pancalli made the announcement this evening. “We will immediately set up a permanent round table commission to discuss the situation between sport and politics. It’s not possible to carry on like this. If this is football, then I’m stopping everything.”

The Sicilian derby, eventually won 2-1 by Palermo this evening, had been interrupted after 57 minutes due to crowd trouble when tear gas floated on to the pitch.

While play resumed and the final whistle sanctioned the Rosanero’s victory, the problems intensified outside the Stadio Massimino.

A large group of Catania supporters engaged in a full-scale riot with the police and one officer, 38-year-old Filippo Raciti, was killed when struck in the face by a homemade bomb.

“Football in Italy must stop and take stock. Enough is enough,” continued Pancalli. “I cannot find the words to describe a 38-year-old man who lost his life in such a way. This is not sport.

“All the football authorities I spoke to immediately agreed that we had to stop everything. Words aren’t enough any more. Right now I am astonished by what has happened and this is completely unacceptable.”

It’s now reported that hundreds of people have been rushed to the local hospital with injuries, although none are thought to be life threatening.

This tragic incident comes just a week after Ermanno Licursi, director of Calabrian amateur side Sanmartinese, was killed in a fight with opposition players after the final whistle of a Serie D game against Cancellese.

The Amateur League was suspended and this latest shameful scenario has pushed the FIGC to take similar action with Serie A, B, C and the Youth Championships.

The incidents will no doubt harm Italy's bid to host the 2012 European Championships

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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.

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Azzurri friendlies called off
Friday 2 February, 2007
The "indefinite" halt to Italian football following crowd violence has spread to the Azzurri, so friendlies against Belgium and Romania have been called off.

FIGC President Luca Pancalli ordered the immediate suspension of all football in Italy after a policeman was killed in riots at Catania’s Stadio Massimino.

It has now been confirmed that decision also includes the international friendly that Roberto Donadoni's World Cup winners were set to play against Romania on Wednesday at Siena’s Stadio Franchi.

Tuesday’s Under-21 meeting between Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Italy side and their Belgian counterparts has also been called off.

“We are stopping football indefinitely. One weekend is not sufficient. Without drastic measures, we will not allow sport to resume,” added FIGC chief Pancalli this evening.

Filippo Raciti, a 38-year-old policeman, was killed when a homemade bomb thrown by Catania fans exploded inside his car.

The match against Palermo, won 2-1 by the visitors, had already been halted for 30 minutes due to crowd trouble that saw tear gas float on to the pitch.

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MST3K-rules said:

This must be about something more than just football. People don't come to a match with bombs just because they love their hometown team.

Sports riots almost always seem to just be a bunch of screaming fans and a few crazy assholes who need an excuse to do something ridiculous.

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[SES]BaNsHee said:

About the craziest things Ive seen after a UT game is a bar fight and girls getting in our motorhome shower on the strip and getting naughty. Other than that, UT fans are pretty fucking calm. Not sure about the rest of the SEC.

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MST3K-rules said:

This must be about something more than just football. People don't come to a match with bombs just because they love their hometown team.

Sports riots almost always seem to just be a bunch of screaming fans and a few crazy assholes who need an excuse to do something ridiculous.

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GriDLoK said:

nice post tse.

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