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Italy resume matches
Italy - 08 February, 2007
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The Italian football federation (FIGC) says football will resume this weekend, but new regulations mean matches may be played in empty stadiums.
Italy's cabinet met yesterday to finalise the new regulations, and the decision Whether fans will be allowed in to watch their teams depends on the outcome of stadia inspections that are made today.
It is already since 2005 that Italian stadiums are required to install closed-circuit TV surveillance and electronic turnstiles, to distribute named match tickets, and provide measurements for crowd control outside the arena, as basic conditions for operation.
Only four arenas in Serie A, Rome's Olympic Stadium, Palermo's Barbera stadium, Turin's Olympic Stadium and the Artemio Franchi stadium in Siena, meet those basic conditions.
The remainder of the arenas, including Milan's San Siro stadium, which is home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, does not meet the basic conditions.
The policy will affect Italy's lower divisions more than Serie A. 8 out of 11 matches in the next round of Serie B will most likely play behind closed doors if the government pushes the measures through.
The cabinet has also decided to add new measures, which include a ban on the block sale of tickets to away fans; a beefing-up of stadium bans for those involved in violence at grounds; and a ban on financial or working relationships between clubs and fan associations. The minimum jail sentence for those who incite violence at football matches will be increased from three years to five. Fans with a history of violence would be banned from stadia for up to seven years.
The new regulations however, have outraged some. "The closed stadiums are a ridiculous idea," Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis told the Italian media. "They can't impose these regulations on us. We must go on strike."
"It would be an absurd solution," said Milan captain Paolo Maldini with regard to playing without fans in attendance. "The sport would lose its meaning."
An estimated EUR 15 million is lost by halting a match-round in Italian football. It is also possible that clubs will suffer additional financial losses if it has to reimburse fans that have already paid for season tickets.
Italy's cabinet met yesterday to finalise the new regulations, and the decision Whether fans will be allowed in to watch their teams depends on the outcome of stadia inspections that are made today.
It is already since 2005 that Italian stadiums are required to install closed-circuit TV surveillance and electronic turnstiles, to distribute named match tickets, and provide measurements for crowd control outside the arena, as basic conditions for operation.
Only four arenas in Serie A, Rome's Olympic Stadium, Palermo's Barbera stadium, Turin's Olympic Stadium and the Artemio Franchi stadium in Siena, meet those basic conditions.
The remainder of the arenas, including Milan's San Siro stadium, which is home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, does not meet the basic conditions.
The policy will affect Italy's lower divisions more than Serie A. 8 out of 11 matches in the next round of Serie B will most likely play behind closed doors if the government pushes the measures through.
The cabinet has also decided to add new measures, which include a ban on the block sale of tickets to away fans; a beefing-up of stadium bans for those involved in violence at grounds; and a ban on financial or working relationships between clubs and fan associations. The minimum jail sentence for those who incite violence at football matches will be increased from three years to five. Fans with a history of violence would be banned from stadia for up to seven years.
The new regulations however, have outraged some. "The closed stadiums are a ridiculous idea," Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis told the Italian media. "They can't impose these regulations on us. We must go on strike."
"It would be an absurd solution," said Milan captain Paolo Maldini with regard to playing without fans in attendance. "The sport would lose its meaning."
An estimated EUR 15 million is lost by halting a match-round in Italian football. It is also possible that clubs will suffer additional financial losses if it has to reimburse fans that have already paid for season tickets.
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