Inter and Roma fans banned from final games
Reuters - Thursday 15 May 2008, 10:21
Inter Milan supporters have been
banned from attending Sunday's final Serie A match at Parma,
authorities said on Thursday, two days after supporters of
title rivals AS Roma were barred from their game at Catania.
Inter lead Roma by one point heading into the final weekend
of the season with the two games also crucial for the bottom
end of the table with Catania just two points above
third-bottom Parma, who occupy the last relegation place.
Fan violence has marred the Italian game in recent years
with a policeman being killed in riots outside a match in
Catania in February last year.
A national anti-hooligan body, set up to rule on whether
away supporters can attend certain high-risk matches, has been
meeting all week and left the decision to the individual city
authorities.
The head of Parma's civil security body told reporters they
had decided to ban Inter fans.
"Yes, the body has agreed to the closure of the visitors'
section of Parma's stadium for Sunday," Michele Formiglio said.
Antonio Matarrese, the head of the Italian league, has been
among those to criticise the decisions to ban the fans from
possibly seeing their team win the title. Authorities say
public safety is more important.
Media reports said fan groups have threatened violence at
Sunday's matches, with some away supporters still planning to
travel to the games to protest.
Roma fans were also banned for an Italian Cup semi-final,
second leg at Catania last week. The match finished 1-1 but
Roma reached the final 2-1 on aggregate.
Reporting by Emilio Parodi; Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing
by Padraic Halpin