Italy cancels football after policeman dies in match riot

Published on Saturday 3 February 2007 11:28

PROFESSIONAL football has been halted in Italy after a policeman was killed and another left in a critical condition when fans rioted at a match.

Fans at the Serie A match between Sicilian sides Catania and Palermo rioted outside Catania's Angelo Massimino stadium during the second half yesterday.

Police fired tear gas, which wafted into the stadium and forced the match to be temporarily suspended in the 58th minute with Palermo leading 1-0. Television footage showed players struggling to breathe and pouring bottled water on their faces.

The violence continued after the game, in which Palermo beat Catania 2-1, trapping hundreds of fans inside the stadium as authorities sought to avoid further violence and stop people leaving. Police said the officer, named as Chief Inspector Filippo Raciti, died after an explosive device was thrown inside his vehicle.

Nine Catania fans were detained, but none was suspected of killing the officer.

Another police officer was today in hospital in critical condition, and police said dozens of people had suffered lesser injuries.

Italian football federation commissioner Luca Pancalli called an emergency meeting in Rome last night, and announced he was cancelling all games.

"The decision to block the championships was immediate," he said. "We cannot continue like this. What we're witnessing has nothing to do with soccer, therefore Italian soccer is stopping."

Italy's friendly with Romania on Wednesday and an under-21 friendly scheduled for Tuesday against Belgium have also been cancelled.

Football bosses are to hold more meetings on Monday "to identify those drastic measures that will allow us to restart".

The violence follows last month's death of a fourth-division team manager from injuries he received when he tried to stop a brawl during a game.