Italian soccer clubs are scrambling to comply with security
standards so that fans will not be locked out of their venues under
the crackdown imposed in the wake of last week's fatal riot in
Sicily.
A policeman was killed and 100 people injured when fans went on
the rampage after last Friday's derby between Catania and
Palermo.
The violence prompted the Italian government to introduce strict
new measures to curb hooliganism and clubs whose security does not
meet legal requirements are being forced to play their games behind
closed doors.
Professional soccer was suspended after last Friday's violence,
but resumes this weekend.
The grounds of 11 clubs in the top two divisions, including San
Siro stadium, home to AC and Inter Milan, have been deemed unsafe
and will not be permitted spectators.
However, AC Milan have employed 100 people who have been working
around the clock to improve their security in the hope that they
will be able to let fans in for Sunday's home match against
Livorno.
The club have installed 28 additional turnstiles to meet one of
the safety criteria laid down by the government in the hope they
can reach a compromise and be allowed to open their doors to
season-ticket holders.
The San Siro, which has a capacity of 78,000, requires 160
turnstiles.
"We are doing everything we can to keep our season-ticket
holders happy," AC Milan president Adriano Galliani said.
"We hope the 28 turnstiles can guarantee the entrance of 40,000
fans. Football without fans is not natural."
An independent security watchdog specializing in stadium
security will inspect the stadium before reporting back to the
government, who must then decide whether to give AC Milan the green
light.
On Friday, AC Milan owner and former Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi slammed the government's ban on fans.
"I believe it is an infringement of liberty not to allow season
ticket holders to watch their team because of the painful events
that happened in Catania," he said.
"It wouldn't have imposed such restrictions when I was Prime
Minister."
Other clubs who have started improving security at their grounds
are Messina, Fiorentina, Empoli and Reggina.
Messina had hoped to stage their match against Catania after
constructing a police viewpoint that was required of them, but
given the match is another Sicilian derby local authorities
insisted on closed doors.
Fans of Inter Milan are threatening to defy the ban on
supporters and travel to their match against Chievo, but only to
make a peaceful protest.
A message posted on an Inter fans' website said: "With our
presence in Verona, we want to show our contempt for the new
legislation on banning fans, not to cause problems for the
police."
(China Daily via AFP February 12, 2007)