QUOTE
San Siro given all-clear
Saturday 24 February, 2007 - FI - channel4.com
San Siro is now able to welcome all fans for Sunday’s Milan-Sampdoria game, while Udine and Florence let in season ticket holders.
The Stadiopoli crisis is slowly passing and in Week 25 there will be only one game played behind closed doors.
Catania must play the rest of their home matches in empty stadia, including Sunday’s with Inter, due to rioting that caused the death of police officer Filippo Raciti on February 2.
In the wake of that incident, strict new laws to clamp down on football-related violence were introduced and stadiums were shut down until they were up to standard.
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan had until now only been fit to let in season ticket holders, but today’s inspection confirmed the work has been completed to enough of a degree that all fans can sit in the stands.
“After having evaluated the commission’s inspection report, we unanimously agreed that the stadium is up to standard and therefore able to welcome both season ticket and regular ticket holders,†read a statement from the Osservatorio.
The evening kick-off has also been confirmed, as the match Milan-Sampdoria is not considered to be high risk. This means that Celtic fans will be able to travel to San Siro as normal for the Champions League second leg match in March.
Fiorentina will have their season ticket holders for the local derby against Empoli tomorrow afternoon following an inspection on the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Udinese-Parma will also have the local season ticket fans after turnstiles were mounted at the Stadio Friuli.
“Thanks to the collaboration of all the authorities, we have reached this important step. Udinese do not intend to stop here. In the next few weeks we’ll work to open the stadium up to all the supporters,†said President Gianpaolo Pozzo.
Livorno-Ascoli at the Stadio Picchi, Atalanta-Palermo in the Stadio Azzurri d’Italia and this afternoon’s Chievo-Torino at the Bentegodi are open to season ticket holders only.
Cagliari-Lazio, Roma-Reggina and Messina-Siena are open to all supporters with a valid ticket.