New UEFA president Michel Platini has backed the Italian football federation's decision to suspend all football after a police officer was killed in violence at the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo yesterday.
The officer was named as Filippo Raciti, 38. He died in hospital after being struck by an explosive device in fighting outside the ground.
Following an emergency meeting, FIGC commissioner Luca Pantelli announced that all football was immediately and indefinitely suspended in Italy.
A statement from Platini said: 'Firstly I extend my heartfelt personal condolences, together with those of the entire European football family, to the family of the police officer, Filippo Raciti, who lost his life yesterday.
'Violence of any sort is unacceptable and it has absolutely no place in the game of football - we do not condone it, we must not accept it and we must act to eradicate it.
'That is why today UEFA offers its wholehearted support for the actions taken by the FIGC's extraordinary commissioner, Luca Pancalli, to indefinitely suspend all international and domestic matches until further notice.
'Following the death of a Paris St Germain supporter last year and the rioting of Feyenoord fans in Nancy, this latest episode further deepens our concern about violence creeping back into the game.
'We must now work together with the Italian football authorities and politicians in support of the Italian game, and find a solution to this spiral of violence that is plaguing European football.'
Platini experienced one of football's most terrible moments when he was present at the Heysel disaster as a Juventus player in 1985.
Italian players association president Sergio Campana also supported the suspension and has suggested that on-field activities should be stopped for as long a year, to allow a proper investigation into problems affecting the game.
'Pancalli called me and I was in total agreement (with the suspension), but I wanted my proposal taken seriously that soccer should stop for a year in order to reflect on the evils that exist.
'A one-day postponement is not enough.
'We must reflect. We can not accept episodes of violence every single weekend just because someone plays badly. I've been in football many years, but I've never experienced such a tragic week.
'If in England they've managed to beat every type of violence, I see no reason why we can't do the same. In England you see teams that have been relegated and applauded by their fans, here our players are hit because they lose one game.'
England manager Steve McClaren agreed that the English game can offer some important lessons to the Italian authorities.
In the 1970s and 1980s, English football suffered widespread violence at grounds and a host of measures were taken in what has been a largely successful attempt to improve the sport's reputation.
And McClaren is called for the FIGC to take the same steps.
He told BBC's Radio Five Live: 'They have got to learn a lot about the English game, the Premier League and how it has come on over the years.
'The safety now at most grounds (has improved). Compared to when I used to go and watch, the violence that surrounded football, I won't say it has disappeared completely, but it is very, very well controlled and it a great environment in which to take the children and families now, and we have to encourage that.
'Of course, I think a lot of other countries are looking at the Premier League and the way we built stadiums, security, seating arrangements and ticketing arrangements.
'Other countries have learnt and maybe after the drastic events in Italy something has to be done.'
Meanwhile, Italy striker Emiliano Bonazzoli admits that players have been living in fear for some time.
The Sampdoria forward said: 'When you don't win and things are going badly there is always fear of the supporters - that something could happen to you at home or that they could come to the training ground.
'We always have a little bit of fear but we have to live with the problem.'
'We are all shaken by what has happened. It's right the championship has been stopped.'
Catania, who are organising a fundraising event for Filippo Raciti's family, also released a statement on their official website, www.calciocatania.it.
It read: 'Catania football club expresses its own condemnation and indignation at the tragic events which took place on the occasion of the derby between Catania and Palermo on Friday, February 2, 2007, and its own disdain for those responsible for these acts.
'The thoughts of the directors, the coaches, the footballers and all our partners are exclusively with the family of chief inspector Filippo Raciti.'
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