ITALY: SOCCER - Tears and angst in Italy as police bury officer killed during soccer riot

Thousands pay their respects at emotional funeral for Italian policeman killed during football riots, while the nation waits to hear how long soccer will be suspended following the soccer violence. Italy's football industry urged government and sporting authorities meeting on Monday (February 5) to lift a ban on soccer matches as the nation paused for the funeral of policeman Filippo Raciti was killed by rioting fans. Raciti's coffin, draped in the Italian flag, was carried by his police colleagues up to the cathedral with a large crowd of onlookers solemnly applauding in a customary sign of respect. Raciti's eight-year-old son, dressed in his father's uniform, followed the coffin as it made its way into the cathedral. Politicians, including Italy's Interior Minister Giuliano Amato and Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri, paid their respects. Fellow officers of Raciti were openly crying as the coffin made its way into the cathedral. 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 Raciti died and over 70 people were injured. A firecracker which exploded in Raciti's face was initially considered the cause of death, though a prosecutor said an autopsy showed it was due to a blow from a blunt object. Throughout the country, Italians paused, with Rome's main airport suspending all check-ins for a minute of silence. The Catholic funeral service, presided over by the city's archbishop, was broadcast live on national television. 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. Raciti was the 13th person to be killed in or around Italy's football stadiums since 1962. The last fatality at a Serie A match happened in 1995 when a Genoa fan was stabbed to death before a game against AC Milan. Stunned by the bloodshed at the derby match many top Italian officials have warned football will not resume until radical changes are implemented. "It was terrible, terrible, terrible" said soccer fan Pierluigi Zotta. The government is now pondering keeping the suspension in place for at least two weeks and holding matches behind closed doors thereafter. One leading newspaper on Monday ran a cartoon of the World Cup trophy showing a worm coming out of the football. Other headlines read: 'Give us back soccer' and 'Stop fans following their teams.'

ITN Source | February 5, 2007

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