Italy buries policeman

ROME – Italy’s football industry urged government and sporting authorities meeting on Monday to lift a ban on soccer matches as the nation paused for the funeral of a policeman killed by rioting fans.

A soccer-mad nation which only seven months ago celebrated a World Cup victory was stunned by the outcome of riots at a derby between rival Sicilian teams Catania and Palermo on Friday, in which the policeman died and over 70 people were injured. Ministers and soccer federation officials have vowed to hammer out emergency measures.Possible steps reportedly being considered include banning spectators from unsafe stadiums and redirecting a percentage of TV profits to improve security.But the industry was worried that officials could decide to prolong a costly suspension imposed last Friday on a sport that, beyond being a national obsession, rakes in an estimated six billion euros ($7.81 billion) a year.Antonio Matarrese, who represents the financial interests of the teams as president of the football league, said hooliganism was largely a police matter and matches should be resumed.”We are pained, but the show must go on,” he told La Repubblica newspaper.”Soccer must never shut down.”* A bus carrying the Paris Saint Germain team was pelted with stones on its arrival in Marseille ahead of Sunday night’s game between the first division heavyweights, police confirmed.Two PSG supporters were also arrested before the tie following skirmishes outside the stadium between rival factions.Meanwhile, an official from the Parisian club said that 12 of 18 buses carrying fans to the Velodrome Stadium were also stoned, with the back window of one of the vehicles being smashed.Police said that one PSG fan received a slight head injury as a result.Nampa-Reuters-AFPMinisters and soccer federation officials have vowed to hammer out emergency measures.Possible steps reportedly being considered include banning spectators from unsafe stadiums and redirecting a percentage of TV profits to improve security.But the industry was worried that officials could decide to prolong a costly suspension imposed last Friday on a sport that, beyond being a national obsession, rakes in an estimated six billion euros ($7.81 billion) a year.Antonio Matarrese, who represents the financial interests of the teams as president of the football league, said hooliganism was largely a police matter and matches should be resumed.”We are pained, but the show must go on,” he told La Repubblica newspaper.”Soccer must never shut down.”* A bus carrying the Paris Saint Germain team was pelted with stones on its arrival in Marseille ahead of Sunday night’s game between the first division heavyweights, police confirmed.Two PSG supporters were also arrested before the tie following skirmishes outside the stadium between rival factions.Meanwhile, an official from the Parisian club said that 12 of 18 buses carrying fans to the Velodrome Stadium were also stoned, with the back window of one of the vehicles being smashed.Police said that one PSG fan received a slight head injury as a result.Nampa-Reuters-AFP