Italy cabinet approves tough anti-hooligan plan
Marisa Grasso, widow of slain Italian police officer Filippo Raciti, speaks to reporters with Catania's head of police Michele Capomacchio (R) in Catania, February 7, 2007. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's cabinet on Wednesday brushed aside resistance by football clubs to approve a tough set of measures to tackle hooliganism at football stadiums.
Under the measures, which follow the death of a policeman during rioting at a match last week, stadiums which are not in line with security regulations will remain closed to fans.
Other measures 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, including under 18s, and a ban on financial or working relationships between clubs and fan associations.
"In the decree (...) it is explicitly said that matches in stadiums which are not in line with regulations will be played behind closed doors," deputy Interior Minister Marco Minniti told a news conference after the cabinet meeting.
"It is clear that we have here very serious measures, I would say without precedents. Maybe this was the only possible answer to such a tragic event," he said. Full Article