Celtic and SFA await Italian stadia verdict

Published on Thursday 8 February 2007 11:54

CELTIC and the Scottish Football Association were waiting today to receive the verdict on whether next month's crunch European clashes in Italy must be moved to new venues.

Celtic's Champions League match against AC Milan, the second leg of their last-16 clash, could be moved to France or Switzerland after the Italian government approved new measures to combat football hooliganism which include the closure of stadia which do not meet safety standards.

The measures, which also include a ban on fireworks and smoke bombs, are in response to the violent scenes at the Serie A Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo, where a policeman died.

Although football in Italy will resume this weekend, it is understood only six stadia in Serie A currently meet the required standards - the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Artemio Franchi in Siena, the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, Renzo Barbera in Palermo, Sampdoria's Luigi Ferraris and Messina's San Filippo.

Even these would also be forbidden from selling tickets to away supporters.

Celtic were due to play at Milan's San Siro on March 7, with Scotland scheduled to face world champions Italy on March 28 in a Euro 2008 qualifier at Bari's San Nicola stadium. Italy's home match against Scotland appears unlikely to be moved to another country, which could mean a ban for Scotland's Tartan Army supporters attending the game.

An announcement will be made today by the FIGC - Italy's football association - to confirm which stadia will be affected, and the legislation will apply immediately.

Italy's minister of sport, Giovanni Melandri, said: "Those stadiums that do not meet our safety standards will not be open to fans."

The prospect of a high-profile match being played in an empty San Siro may not appeal to Milan, Celtic or even UEFA, whose spokesman William Gaillard said the option of staging the clash outside Italy was under consideration.

Gaillard said: "We want to know in particular what measures will apply to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) and we're ready to consider all hypotheses.

"We know Milan would rather play on neutral ground in France or Switzerland than play behind closed doors in Milan."

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani predicted it would take until October for the San Siro to be modernised sufficiently for it to meet the new safety standards and reopen.

Galliani said: "If the authorities confirm their decision is final, we will have to play behind closed doors."