Soccer in Italy has gotten completly out of control. Just two weeks ago, a team official from a 4th division (think AAA ball) was killed during a brawl when someone kicked him in the head. Now in Serie A, a policeman was killed when rioting broke out between fans after a game between Catania and Palermo. 40-year-old Fillipo Raciti was killed either by a blow to the stomach or being hit in the face with a small explosive. The autopsy is pending.
First of all, a small explosive? Who the hell brings a small explosive to a soccer match? (Yes, a fan once shot a flare gun at Veterans Stadium but into some empty seats.) Second, what the hell is going on with Italian soccer fans? It’s like they’re determined to take hooliganism to the next level. Italian officials have suspended soccer matches indefinitely until they can figure out what to do about the insanity. You know it’s bad when the Pope has to come out and remind Catholics that violence in soccer is… bad.
One possible reason for the tremendous amounts of violence in Italian soccer are the traveling fans according to EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini.
In Italy the clubs guarantee great bonuses to fans who travel to follow their teams in away games: free travel, discounted tickets. Abroad fans have to pay for their own tickets, while here [in Italy] they are offered by the clubs
We actually like soccer around here at Sportscolumn but the next time someone puts down American football and talks about how great of a game soccer is, we’ll remind them that at least we don’t riot to kill people (a new plasma TV will do) and blatant racism isn’t tolerated in NFL stadiums.
Links:
[Toronto Star]: Thousands mourn officer killed in Italy soccer riot
[Catholic Online]: Pope condemns violence ‘disfiguring’ soccer world
