[han2503]

Italian weekend cancelled

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

[agenth]

channel4.com

Players urge year-long suspension Friday 2 February, 2007

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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.

this would be the ultimate death of italian football.

[LaPalma]

this would be the ultimate death of italian football.

I tink you're right. It definetely would the end of the Serie A as league for international stars...which player wants to play in such a league full of scandals?

[X-Offender]

I tink you're right. It definetely would the end of the Serie A as league for international stars...which player wants to play in such a league full of scandals?

I can't see it happening. There will be a lot of noise and trouble, but I don't think the situation will go as far as suspend calcio for a whole year. That would really mean the end of it all.