Italy police question teenager on soccer death
Thursday, 8 February 2007 13:34Italian police have said they are questioning a 17-year-old boy over the death of a policeman in riots outside a soccer stadium in Sicily last week which led to the suspension of matches all over Italy.
The policeman died after being hit and having a homemade explosive thrown into his car outside a Serie A game in Catania last Friday. Police in Sicily would only identify the suspect as a teenager from Catania.
All matches were immediately suspended after the policeman's death pending a security review and only the safest stadiums will be open to fans when matches resume this weekend.
The Italian government has today said that six stadiums could open for matches with fans in attendance, while others would not be allowed to open their terraces to spectators pending new security improvements.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the six stadiums that could open were Rome, Genoa, Siena, Cagliari, Turin (Olimpico) and Palermo.
These stadiums include closed-circuit TV surveillance, numbered seating and electronic turnstiles. Other new security measures include a ban on the block sale of tickets to away fans, a beefing-up of stadium bans for those involved in violence, including under 18s, tougher jail terms and a ban on financial links between clubs and fan associations.
Firecrackers will no longer be allowed inside stadiums and, at least initially, there will be no late-night matches.
