Soccer Riots In Italy Forces Cancellation Of All Games

[ckb2001]

Thankfully, the US is far behind Europe in this type of sport-based violence:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/02/02/bc.eu.spt.soc.italianro.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

"A police officer was killed Friday when fans rioted at a Serie A game between Sicilian sides Catania and Palermo, prompting the Italian soccer federation to suspend all league matches in the country's top two divisions this weekend."

"Fans rioted outside Catania's Angelo Massimino stadium during the second half. 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.

Police said the officer died after an explosive device was thrown inside his vehicle.

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 from leaving.

Federation (FIGC) commissioner Luca Pancalli called an emergency meeting in Rome late Friday, and announced he was canceling all games, the federation said."

"He added that the decision to stop the games for the duration of the weekend was not enough, and said there would be more meetings Monday "to identify those drastic measures that will allow us to restart. Otherwise, we're not restarting the games."

 

[wpgfishfan]

Thankfully, the US is far behind Europe in this type of sport-based violence:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/02/02/bc.eu.spt.soc.italianro.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

"A police officer was killed Friday when fans rioted at a Serie A game between Sicilian sides Catania and Palermo, prompting the Italian soccer federation to suspend all league matches in the country's top two divisions this weekend."

"Fans rioted outside Catania's Angelo Massimino stadium during the second half. 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.

Police said the officer died after an explosive device was thrown inside his vehicle.

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 from leaving.

Federation (FIGC) commissioner Luca Pancalli called an emergency meeting in Rome late Friday, and announced he was canceling all games, the federation said."

"He added that the decision to stop the games for the duration of the weekend was not enough, and said there would be more meetings Monday "to identify those drastic measures that will allow us to restart. Otherwise, we're not restarting the games."

Italy is bad for this as is most of Europe. The fans go way too crazy with their cheering and a lot of games are filled with racial taunts

 

[HysterikiLL]

It sounds pretty serious over there. They need David Stern to kick their *****.

 

[Prime Time]

Italy is bad for this as is most of Europe. The fans go way too crazy with their cheering and a lot of games are filled with racial taunts

Yea, that is unfortunate, but as of now...it is part of the game.

 

[Sethdaddy8]

Thankfully, the US is far behind Europe in this type of sport-based violence:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/02/02/bc.eu.spt.soc.italianro.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

"A police officer was killed Friday when fans rioted at a Serie A game between Sicilian sides Catania and Palermo, prompting the Italian soccer federation to suspend all league matches in the country's top two divisions this weekend."

"Fans rioted outside Catania's Angelo Massimino stadium during the second half. 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.

Police said the officer died after an explosive device was thrown inside his vehicle.

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 from leaving.

Federation (FIGC) commissioner Luca Pancalli called an emergency meeting in Rome late Friday, and announced he was canceling all games, the federation said."

"He added that the decision to stop the games for the duration of the weekend was not enough, and said there would be more meetings Monday "to identify those drastic measures that will allow us to restart. Otherwise, we're not restarting the games."

As I stated in other threads...security is another big reason I am against the Dolphins playing in London. Europeans get nuts at sporting events. They can be worse than Eagle fans, especially in regards to violence.

 

[ckb2001]

As I stated in other threads...security is another big reason I am against the Dolphins playing in London. Europeans get nuts at sporting events. They can be worse than Eagle fans, especially in regards to violence.

Just my guess, but I doubt it will happen for teams from the US. I lived in Germany 8 years and saw much of this passion first-hand (from '88-'96, so I saw them win the WC in '90 too), and it really depends on how attached you are to that team and how much you identify with them.

For those interested in American Football, they likely won't have this attachment, so the Fins should be safe. The bigger question is will they even sell out the place?

 

[Prime Time]

For those interested in American Football, they likely won't have this attachment, so the Fins should be safe. The bigger question is will they even sell out the place?

Doubtful.

 

[ScottishFin]

"Italy is bad for this as is most of Europe" -

Ive been to over 700 football matches in over 12 different countries and seen ONE bit of violence. That was in Ukraine this year. Been to Italy plenty times and seen nothing at all. Maybe I was at "safer" games but Milan derby is surely one of the most heated derbys in world football and saw nothing there.

Im sure on some occasions there is some violence but my personal experience would say that the statement quoted is plain wrong and misinformed at best.

Yes Italy has some current issues but most of Europe has managed to get rid of this hooligan element although in some cases it still exists but has been driven away from the games itself and an violence is carefully organised to be away from the venues as they are so heavily policed.

As to whether the game will be a sellout or not , there has been over 100,000 registrations of interest in buying tickets , thats not the number of tickets requested but each single request. I have no doubt this game could be sold 3 or 4 times over such is the interest for it in the UK at this moment.

 

[wpgfishfan]

"Italy is bad for this as is most of Europe" -

Ive been to over 700 football matches in over 12 different countries and seen ONE bit of violence. That was in Ukraine this year. Been to Italy plenty times and seen nothing at all. Maybe I was at "safer" games but Milan derby is surely one of the most heated derbys in world football and saw nothing there.

Im sure on some occasions there is some violence but my personal experience would say that the statement quoted is plain wrong and misinformed at best.

Yes Italy has some current issues but most of Europe has managed to get rid of this hooligan element although in some cases it still exists but has been driven away from the games itself and an violence is carefully organised to be away from the venues as they are so heavily policed.

As to whether the game will be a sellout or not , there has been over 100,000 registrations of interest in buying tickets , thats not the number of tickets requested but each single request. I have no doubt this game could be sold 3 or 4 times over such is the interest for it in the UK at this moment.

I follow Roma in Serie A and they have tons of issues with fans.

At least once a month during a Sunday soccer game you see the riot police go into the stands and see people throw firecrackers and such from the stands

My concern for the Dolphins is the racism that is becoming more and more rampant. I am not sure which country is worse but in games in Italy, France, Germany and England once in a while you have groups of people singing racist songs and there has even been an incident or 2 where a fans???? have thrown bananas towards the non-white players

 

[ChrisKo]

Just my guess, but I doubt it will happen for teams from the US. I lived in Germany 8 years and saw much of this passion first-hand (from '88-'96, so I saw them win the WC in '90 too), and it really depends on how attached you are to that team and how much you identify with them.

For those interested in American Football, they likely won't have this attachment, so the Fins should be safe. The bigger question is will they even sell out the place?

Rumors are that they've already had over 110k requests for tickets in a stadium that fits 90k. I don't think there will be a problem selling out the Dolphins-Giants game.

 

[ScottishFin]

My concern for the Dolphins is the racism that is becoming more and more rampant. I am not sure which country is worse but in games in Italy, France, Germany and England once in a while you have groups of people singing racist songs and there has even been an incident or 2 where a fans???? have thrown bananas towards the non-white players

You are talking about the UK here not some backwater in the arse end of nowhere. There is no more of a racism problem here than anywhere in the US.

Racism did happen in the 80s/90s and on the odd occasion happens today no one can deny that fact. I would bet that you get the odd idiot at sporting events in the US saying the same things the idiots say over here.

Thanks to proper education (Show Racism the Red Card is an annual event to remind people that any racism is totally unacceptable) racism has been nearly totally eradicated , anyone who dishes out racist abuse is quite rightly banned for life from attending any games in the UK. We are extremely harsh on these people , any racism is totally unacceptable in a modern forward thinking society.

Banning orders in the UK number less than 100 a year. Considering anything up to 1.5-2m people attend sports each weekend that is pretty minimal IMO.

As for having concerns about the Fins in the UK , totally unfounded IMO. There are thousands of people who have been waiting their entire lives to attend an NFL game. You think they are gonna go there and racially abuse players that to some are sporting heroes ?

Sorry for going off on one a bit here :)

 

[Roman529]

I lived in Verona, Italy from 1971-1975...there has always been violence at these games. But usually nobody got killed. It's too bad fans get this crazy about these games. I guess the teams will have to play some more games with no fans in the stands.

 

[ckb2001]

Rumors are that they've already had over 110k requests for tickets in a stadium that fits 90k. I don't think there will be a problem selling out the Dolphins-Giants game.

cool :cooldude:

 

[DonShula84]

As I stated in other threads...security is another big reason I am against the Dolphins playing in London. Europeans get nuts at sporting events. They can be worse than Eagle fans, especially in regards to violence.

Violence at soccer games is different imo than at an American football game. They have a lot invested emotionally in their soccer teams but dont have that same devotion and commitment to a football team. Also, it turns into an almost nationalistic release at soccer games where you arent fighting over which team is better but over which country/city.

 

[CrunchTime]

They are too lax on hooligans in Italy.Thats part of the problem.They usually get off overnight.

Some of them are hardened criminals who need stiffer penalties.

Also they dont use hooligan profiling as much as other European countries.

I hear they are going to play games without fans until they can increase security.