ITALY: Rigorous police checks underway as soccer fans enter Milan and Rome stadiums

Several police security checkpoints met A.C. Milan season ticket holders as they arrived to watch the Serie A match against Livorno at the San Siro stadium on Sunday (February 11). Italy approved tough anti-hooligan measures earlier this week after a policeman was killed by rioting fans in Sicily last Friday week (February 2). Men, women and children were seen arriving for the match in Milan and whilst the police presence was very obvious, the atmosphere remained calm on both sides. Identity cards and bags were checked and fans frisked by police before passing through the pre-filter gates. A second round of checks awaited the fans before passing through the new electronic turnstiles installed only last week. A third round of checks were being carried out once fans had gone through the turnstiles. Club banners and flags were unfurled by police who threw out plastic bottle tops from bags before the supporters were allowed through. The decision to let A.C. Milan season ticket holders in to see what will probably be Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo's debut was only taken late last night and fans remained unconvinced the measures would help stop violence. "I don't think this will make a difference because anything can happen outside the stadium," said Emilia Zanaboni, an A.C. Milan fan of thirty years. A small percentage of the 37,000 Milan season ticket holders are expected to turn up for the game. Only six stadiums in Serie A were in line with security regulations -- Rome, Palermo, Genoa, Siena, Cagliari and Turin (Olimpico). But stewards at Rome's stadium said they had not had enough time to sell tickets openly to the general public and were expecting just season ticket holders for the match on Sunday. Season tickets were also checked at Roma's Olympic stadium as fans of all ages arrived to see the match. "It's all a bluff - everything will return to what it was like before," said an unimpressed Roma fan, Mario Toraci.

ITN Source | February 11, 2007

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