Soccer. World's Most Dangerous Sport
Italian soccer fans face lockout
Last Updated: Monday, February 5, 2007 3:42 PM ET
CBC Sports
Italian soccer fans could be barred from stadiums if security measures designed to curb fan violence are not met, Interior Minister Giuliano Amato warned in Rome on Monday.
The ruling, which still must be approved by Italy's cabinet, comes only days after riots broke out during and after a Serie A match in Sicily in which a 38-year-old police officer was killed and 70 people were injured.
Italian police officers carry the Filippo Raciti's Italian flag-covered coffin during the police officer's funeral Monday. Raciti was killed Friday when a home-made bomb was thrown into his car during a soccer riot in Sicily. (Marcello Paternostro/AFP/Getty Images)
Amato met with Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri, Italian Olympic Committee president Gianni Petrucci and soccer federation commissioner Luca Pancalli on Monday to discuss a plan to deal with soccer hooliganism.
Some of the measures considered include barring organized groups of fans from following their teams at away games, and limiting the number of fans allowed in stadiums where security measures are considered lax.
According to a report Monday in the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, only four stadiums used by clubs in the Serie A satisfy the safety standards: the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, the Artemio Franchi stadium in Siena, and the Renzo Barbera stadium in Palermo.
Venerable San Siro, the stadium shared by soccer giants AC Milan and Inter Milan, isn't up to snuff.
"We will take appropriate measures — we will make these people understand that it is over," Amato said in Sunday's edition of La Repubblica.
"They cannot go to the stadium with bombs and with bars. We will stop them even if we have to end soccer."
Games postponed
The Italian soccer federation postponed all games over the weekend following the rioting and cancelled Wednesday's friendly between Italy and Romania. Officials are also considering extending the suspension of play to next weekend.
Antonio Matarrese, the president of the Italian soccer league, said his country can't afford to suspend play.
"This is among Italy's most important industries, and it needs to continue," Matarrese said. "We are saddened, but the show must go on."
A decision on when play will resume is expected Wednesday.
A testimony to why professional soccer should not be allowed in North America. Too perilous.
Last Updated: Monday, February 5, 2007 3:42 PM ET
CBC Sports
Italian soccer fans could be barred from stadiums if security measures designed to curb fan violence are not met, Interior Minister Giuliano Amato warned in Rome on Monday.
The ruling, which still must be approved by Italy's cabinet, comes only days after riots broke out during and after a Serie A match in Sicily in which a 38-year-old police officer was killed and 70 people were injured.
Italian police officers carry the Filippo Raciti's Italian flag-covered coffin during the police officer's funeral Monday. Raciti was killed Friday when a home-made bomb was thrown into his car during a soccer riot in Sicily. (Marcello Paternostro/AFP/Getty Images)
Amato met with Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri, Italian Olympic Committee president Gianni Petrucci and soccer federation commissioner Luca Pancalli on Monday to discuss a plan to deal with soccer hooliganism.
Some of the measures considered include barring organized groups of fans from following their teams at away games, and limiting the number of fans allowed in stadiums where security measures are considered lax.
According to a report Monday in the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, only four stadiums used by clubs in the Serie A satisfy the safety standards: the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, the Artemio Franchi stadium in Siena, and the Renzo Barbera stadium in Palermo.
Venerable San Siro, the stadium shared by soccer giants AC Milan and Inter Milan, isn't up to snuff.
"We will take appropriate measures — we will make these people understand that it is over," Amato said in Sunday's edition of La Repubblica.
"They cannot go to the stadium with bombs and with bars. We will stop them even if we have to end soccer."
Games postponed
The Italian soccer federation postponed all games over the weekend following the rioting and cancelled Wednesday's friendly between Italy and Romania. Officials are also considering extending the suspension of play to next weekend.
Antonio Matarrese, the president of the Italian soccer league, said his country can't afford to suspend play.
"This is among Italy's most important industries, and it needs to continue," Matarrese said. "We are saddened, but the show must go on."
A decision on when play will resume is expected Wednesday.
A testimony to why professional soccer should not be allowed in North America. Too perilous.
posted by Domenicus at
4:20 PM
4 Comments:
If I've said it once, I've said it a katillion times, "Chess is the only sport for real men!"
A.S. Chess is more dangerous, too! You have to kill and capture men, not to mention one tall dame!
Not to mention the terrors of avoiding poking your eye out with bishops. The horror.
Not to mention the pain and humiliation of being beaten soundly by your girlfriend.
A Davy versus Tree chess game must be quite the spectacle. Not a G-rated event.
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