At a Crossroads

By: Martha | February 5th, 2007

Football. Filippo Raciti’s body lay in state last night. Mourners filed by, leaving flowers, team scarves, and heartfelt notes. Those who couldn’t attend sent tributes from afar; hundreds of of bunches of flowers have come from all over Italy. The Minister of the Interior will attend today’s funeral, while Prime Minister Romano Prodi sent a disgust-tinged message to Raciti’s widow and children: “The sacrifice of your husband and your father, chief inspector Filippo Raciti, has shocked and moved Italy. To die on a day of celebration, during a sporting event that dozens of criminals transformed into a guerrilla war, is, if possible, even more absurd.”

The funeral today will be attended by a huge number of mourners, most of whom never knew Raciti. As they were during the Mafia funerals of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Sicilians will be there on principle, making a statement with their mere presence. They want change. They want extremism and violence taken out of the game, but they can’t do it alone: The game itself must lead the way.

This is a turning point: A brief moment of potential, during which a new path can be chosen; the choice of a path is in the hands of CONI, FIGC and the government. When they meet this afternoon, the future of calcio is at stake and, for the sake of the people at that funeral and those all over Italy they represent, they must make a change. They must, for once, be brave. Close down the stadia — all but four in Serie A — that don’t adhere to the regulations set out six years ago. Stop coddling the Ultras. Get cops or stewards in the Curva, and take control. Let the people at that funeral know the sport they love can be saved. Do something.

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Category: Catania, Palermo, Rumors & News, Serie A

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Marco

As much as I hate to say it - maybe FIFA/UEFA needs to suspend Italy from competition. I might not be able to stay up late and watch it on Sunday night anymore, but if it means we get a much improved competition in future, a non-violent competition, it could be worth it. There is no way the Italian authorities will suspend all competition.
Laurie

Paolo makes an interesting point about people not attending games because of fear. It seems that one of the main reasons for the inertia has been economic -- to shut down games, etc. would cost too much. But the refusal to act has created its own economic impact, and will destroy the game if not remedied.

This is tragic, but it is fixable. (And I'm hoping that France is listening also.) What it takes is the will to act. Let's hope that finally comes.
Paolo

First off thoughts and pryers are out with the Raciti Family. The game is in a bad state right now. A club official who was with a lower ranked club from Calabria, and served with them for 40 years, was killed last week as well. He was trying to brake up an altercation between players and was kicked in the head by opposing players, suffered head trauma and later died. A linesman in Serie D had a drum thrown at his head causing him injury. They have to bring the Stadiums up to code and make it safe for all in attendance. I have had the oopurtunity to attend Serie A games and they are flat out phenomenal and I personally have never witnessed any violence. I have read the season will resume Feb 18th behind closed doors in empty stadiums. What they have not made clear is if the games that were suspended will be made up or just completely removed. Incidents like this seem to be synonymous with soccer which is very sad. My own relatives in Italy question me as to why I want to go watch the games when I am there. So there is fear instilled in the people. Which is why attendance is down. Major changes are needed or this will continue to happen. Cancelling seasons or suspending league action for extended periods of time are, in my opinion, just threats and will never happen. They could never do that. Adapt what they have in English stadiums, film everyone and watch them. Take care of the problem outside the stadium. Peruzzi said it right on. Everyone in the game is to blame, from the fans to the players.