Italian Hooliganism: the State Takes the Offensive
It may very well be an unique feature, but we might have reached a point in which the State powers are getting the upper hand on organized hooliganism in Italy.
From the heights of Serie A all the way down to Italy’s lower divisions, Italian hooligans have plagued the beautiful game for quite some time these past years. The frequent acts of violence culminated in tragedy in February 2007, when policeman Filippo Raciti tragically died during a scuffle between Calcio Catania supporters and police officers, following the Serie A derby Catania-Palermo.
Without giving an elaborate analysis of the root and cause of the problem (the discussion could take days), it should be sufficient to say that two problems were identified as the main culprits at the time. The first, was that the specific safety standards required for each football stadium in Italy (as governed by the Pisanu decree of 2005) were being ignored most clubs of Serie A and Serie B. The second was that until recently, supervision of the supporters’ sections during football games was not carried out by stewards (like in the Premiership) but rather by city police, which signficantly contributed in the state of animosity between hardcore supporters and security supervisors.
Following the Raciti incident, new reforms were brought in to end violence in football stadiums, which led to the creation of the Amato decree (decreto Amato). In a nutshell, this new decree reserves very severe punishment to anyone found guilty of carrying pyrotechnic devices, hand-to-hand combat objects (beating sticks, crowbars, baseball bats…), or objects unsafe for the environment (such as spray cans) inside stadium premises. Prison sentences can range from 6 months to 3 years, with fines going from 1,000 to 5,000 Euros. More importantly, the decree permits police officials to preventively body-search all organized supporter groups which are suspect, or have priors of violence.
The effects of the Amato decree seem finally to be bearing fruit: at least 3 games in the new Serie A season so far were or will be played without away supporters, because judged “at high risk” (Genoa-Milan, and recently Roma-Napoli and Fiorentina-Juve). Also just recently, police apprehended 5 Napoli hooligans which are accused of blackmailing the Neapolitan club, while in the past months preventive action of police forces permitted arrests in Bergamo (Lazio supporters were travelling to the Atalanta away game loaded with weapons) and Lucca. Of course, one can’t forget the Juventus-Udinese episode back in September, when a Bianconeri supporter who had thrown an explosive flare onto the field was held still by nearby ‘civil’ Juve fans, and with the help of stadium stewards was carried away by police.
In other words, it seems that ‘real’ supporters, the government, and police forces alike are now forming an united front against hooliganism in Italy.
Currently, police are keeping a close watch on organized supporter groups of Juventus, Torino, Napoli, Roma, Inter, Sampdoria, Genoa, Livorno, and Catania.
Prevention through dialogue is their main means of persuasion, but it shouldn’t be excluded that the Italian police will spring into action again in the upcoming months. A good hope for the future.
Marco Pantanella writes on the mCalcio blog
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[…] T Kyle King <info@dawgsports.com> wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe second was that until recently, supervision of the supporters’ sections during football games was not carried out by stewards (like in the Premiership) but rather by city police, which signficantly contributed in the state of … […]
Marco:
A very interesting article and well done.
I would like to add something that no doubt you know, but might clarify the strange relationships between teams and their Ultras. Historically, the Ultras have had close ties to clubs and players. Much more than we may see in other countries. As you pointed out in item #2 (no more bulk ticket sales), the reforms are aimed to change this culture.
For example, a few years ago, Cristiano Lucarelli of Livorno rented 3 buses to transport ultras back home at his own expense. Paolo Di Canio was a Lazio ultra himself during his youth. Many clubs actively fostered relationships with the “Capo,” or leader, of the Ultras at their respective teams.
You probably recall what happened in Rome a few years ago during the Roman derby. A Roma “capo” convinced Francesco Totti that a child was killed outside of the stadium. The game was suspended, and it was later discovered to be a hoax.
One of the problems that you noted is that teams do not own the stadia in Italy. The English security model should be copied because city police often do not want to clash with the rival factions. It was tragic that the death of Inspector Raciti created an urgency to enforce the Pisanu Laws, which were already on the books.
Thanks Steve, I remember that Totti “dead child hoax” episode… it’s just one of the many indications that club owners and players have to distance themselves from organized supporters, however hurtful it may be to their economy. No club wants less fans, however as a policy they should make it clear that if their supporters can’t behave civilly, they are not welcome at the stadium, plain and simple.
Regarding security, the introduction of stewards has already had a very positive effect, as demonstrated by the Juve-Udinese episode. One can only hope that the future will get better.
Aww, I will never win this Writers comp. for my Subbuteo story!
Who can blame any one for not commenting on it, It does not sound great but it’s pretty good reading