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FIGC suspends soccer in Italy
February 2, 2007

ROME (TICKER) -- Football in Italy has been indefinitely suspended after a police officer was killed during serious trouble at the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo.

The policeman, Filippo Raciti, was 38.

According to reports, he was struck in the face by a small explosive while attempting to deal with fighting outside the stadium. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries.

The Italian football federation (FIGC) held an emergency meeting on Friday evening, and commissioner Luca Pancalli then announced an immediate suspension of soccer

"I have demanded a stop to all activity of (soccer) in Italy," Pancalli said in a statement. "Enough is enough. It's a situation that I cannot speak of. To lose your life at 38 is incredible. This is not a sport."

Speaking at a hastily-arranged press conference in Rome, Pancalli said the suspension would remain in place indefinitely.

"The football tournaments will remain suspended until we solve the violence in our (soccer)" he said. "It's unacceptable that such incidents happen in a country like Italy."

Italy was hoping to host the European Championships in 2012.

"At this moment I'm not thinking about (the bid) but should we lose our Euro 2012 bid because of this situation, we would deserve to lose it," Pancalli said.

Italy's national team was due to play Romania in Siena on Wednesday but that game - and the under-21 fixture against Belgium in Chieti on Tuesday - will not go ahead as things stand.

The president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Gianni Petrucci, has backed the FIGC's decision to suspend all football activity, and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi added his voice to those calling for action to be taken to stop the trouble.

"After the serious incidents that occurred tonight in Catania, my first thought is for the people that have been affected and for their families," he said. "I feel a duty to say that we need a strong and clear signal to avoid the degeneration of this sport which we are seeing more dramatically and more often."

Around 100 people were reported to be injured - some seriously - after fighting erupted in the build-up to the game at the Angelo Massimino Stadium. Trouble continued throughout the evening, with the game suspended for around 30 minutes at one stage.

Palermo won the match, 2-1, but players and staff were held in the stadium by police after the game while the area was secured.

"I am extremely disappointed. Things cannot continue like this," Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin said. "We didn't know anything. We had to go back to the changing rooms because we couldn't breathe. If we cannot get into our heads that (soccer) is a sport we cannot live in the world of (soccer).

"What has happened tonight offends sport and a beautiful city like Catania."

Prior to kickoff a minute's silence had been held following the death of a club official from lower league club Sammartinese at a game last weekend. Catania club executive Pietro Lo Monaco reacted to news of the officer's death by announcing he would leave football.

"I've heard that a policeman has died," he said. "To speak of (soccer) right now seems useless. For me this is the end. I will leave the (soccer) world. I don't recognize myself in this world anymore. I have loved football intensely but after this right now it seems absurd."

The Catania prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into the incident.

Last edited by denys envy on Feb-06-2007 at 21:19

Italian football has no violence whatsoever.

UEFA are cool

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First off its called Football.

Secondly this has been coming for a while with multiple angles of buildup.

No suprise to me that it all blew up in Sicily. Notorious for its hooligans (more than Roma). Many problems there where each city is against each other and history never leaves your head (racism etc). The same goes for Southern Italy as well racism, economic struggles compared to the north.

Its quite sad to see this happen but I think it has to and I agree with the players association nominating a year ban. Something needs to be done here to prove that this shit cant go on. FIGC really never aknowledged it before. I mean after the Dida incident flares are still allowed in the stadium . Now the new non-corrupt (apparently) FIGC could take steps to curb the violence. Hope so.

A year ban will probably not go down. So i say fan violence/disturbances effect the team til the end of the year. 1 arrest = -1 point. Very drastic things to prove the point. Then when the trouble dies down institute rules and police presence like they do in England.

RIP Filipo Raciti

I'm a huge Calcio Catania fan!

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A year ban is a bit too much, specially for a country known for its clubs trying to appeal everything.

R.I.P. the policeman, Filippo Raciti.

Yeah, I've seen the "footage", everyone went berserk

Simple solution though: games like these must be played behind closed gates, too bad for the fans and may decrease the team morale but it's the only way to avoid victims.

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quote:

Originally posted by mellow_head Yeah, I've seen the "footage", everyone went berserk Simple solution though: games like these must be played behind closed gates, too bad for the fans and may decrease the team morale but it's the only way to avoid victims.

do you not think that the fans would just fight outside the ground anyway or in bars?

England is the example. Forget the minority who still give us a bad name, security has been great and we've learnt from our mistakes, for example hillsborough. The Italians need to do the same. The reference to england by one of the officials was spot on

quote:

"We must reflect. We can not accept episodes of violence every single weekend just because someone plays badly. I've been in football many years, but I've never experienced such a tragic week. "If in England they've managed to beat every type of violence, I see no reason why we can't do the same. In England you see teams that have been relegated and applauded by their fans, here our players are hit because they lose one game. "The culture must change. This time we can not allow it to go on. It's time to reflect, we can not lose life for absurd reasons."

Yes it's a game, a sport, yes it's passionate, but there is a big need for it to be realised that it is humans vs humans as well. Passion can be there without violence. I just hope that they can sort something out.

i just hope they catch the f*cknut who threw it and put his ass behind bars for a long time.

I just hope they ban Italy like they did with England in 1985.

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Last edited by Cloud on Feb-03-2007 at 19:53

Cloud I'm afraid it will happen,
right now every soccer activity is suspended from serie a to all other minor leagues, even national team and their under 21 can't play next week, until a final serious disciplinary should be taken.
I have to agree totally with Ian, it's not a football matter, but every people here in italy must understand what does it mean real entertainment and avoid hatred and hooliganism against next, England is a clear example for us.

It's as very hard job to do. The first step is making the majority of people understand it. The next is doing it, esp with the ultras from like lazio & roma, the fans of milan/inter against each other, the 2 turin teams, the southern rivalries etc

mama mia!

it souns a bit drastic but i guess an example has to be made. football shouldnt be cause for violence. ive seen this type of shit first hand in serbia (no one died but the riots def got out of hand) and it kills the atmosphere and almost makes you scared to go to a game