n the wake of riots that led to the death of one police officer and injuries to more than 70 people, Italian soccer and government officials agreed to implement strict new anti-hooliganism measures that would effectively close down the stadiums of at least five Serie A teams. The stadiums of Ascoli, Atalanta, Catania, Chievo Verona and Udinese fail to meet the safety standards laid down by Italian officials at the meeting, which means those teams would be forced to play home matches behind closed doors. Nine other stadiums, including the famous San Siro, Inter and AC Milan’s Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, would only be partly accessible, meaning no away fans. Only the Stadio Olimpico of AS Roma and Lazio, and the stadiums of Siena, Palermo and Torino fully comply with the proposed requirements.
Naturally, Serie A officials and club managers were angered by the news. Antonio Matarrese, president of the Lega Calcio, called the proposal “hot-headed and irresponsible.” Livorno director general Renato Cipollini argued: “Soccer without spectators is not soccer. This decision represents everyone’s defeat, we are surrendering to violence.”
However, it’s completely out of their hands at this point. FIGC president Luca Pancalli said on Monday that if the initiatives laid out with the government are ratified in a meeting on Wednesday, Italian soccer could resume this weekend.