Police officer killed during Italian soccer game
Michigan
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in Sports Talk
I hope soccer never becomes real popular in the US. We have enough problems without having to deal with this kind of stuff.
CATANIA, Sicily (AP) -- 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.
"The decision to block the championships was immediate," Pancalli told a news conference after the meeting. "We cannot continue like this. What we're witnessing has nothing to do with soccer, therefore Italian soccer is stopping."
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."
The FIGC also cancelled the Wednesday friendly between Italy and Romania and an under-21 friendly scheduled for Tuesday against Belgium.
The federation said that another police officer was in critical condition, and police said dozens of people with lesser injuries had been taken to local hospitals.
Police defended security measures at the game.
"We're talking about incidents that happened outside the stadium and after the game had already started," Police Cmdr. Piero Gambuzza told Sky TG24 News. "Police did not allow anyone with explosives to enter the stadium."
CATANIA, Sicily (AP) -- 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.
"The decision to block the championships was immediate," Pancalli told a news conference after the meeting. "We cannot continue like this. What we're witnessing has nothing to do with soccer, therefore Italian soccer is stopping."
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."
The FIGC also cancelled the Wednesday friendly between Italy and Romania and an under-21 friendly scheduled for Tuesday against Belgium.
The federation said that another police officer was in critical condition, and police said dozens of people with lesser injuries had been taken to local hospitals.
Police defended security measures at the game.
"We're talking about incidents that happened outside the stadium and after the game had already started," Police Cmdr. Piero Gambuzza told Sky TG24 News. "Police did not allow anyone with explosives to enter the stadium."
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Comments
still rings true. quite possibly even more boring than watching NASCAR, Golf, Darts, and Poker combined.
<< <i>Thats typical behavior with the idiot soccer fans over there, riots always happen during soccer matches. I dont think that will ever happen with soccer in the United States no matter how popular the sport gets. >>
Excellent sociological analysis.
<< <i>
<< <i>Thats typical behavior with the idiot soccer fans over there, riots always happen during soccer matches. I dont think that will ever happen with soccer in the United States no matter how popular the sport gets. >>
Excellent sociological analysis. >>
Care to share your expertise instead of analyzing my input?
Thank god they show highlights on ESPN so you dont have to sit and watch any of it for real. Now if they could only inspire the golf crowd to riot
Sad news on the cop, they should arm them with assault rifles and let em open up on unruly fans.