Thoughts on the State of Calcio

By: Martha | February 4th, 2007

RIP While the dust from Friday’s tragedy has in no way settled, the various options before football and the government are slowly taking shape, as are troubling rumors about the real reason for Filippo Raciti’s death.

Options from canceling the rest of the season to playing it out behind closed doors are being discussed, and CONI and FIGC will propose a four-part plan to the government tomorrow, laying out a path they think will lead to order. All of this sounds decisive and strong, and suggests something might actually be changing. Looking closely at the CONI/FIGC plan, however, it quickly becomes apparent that this is simply more of the same — they’re essentially suggesting that rules already on the books be enforced. In other words, “You know those changes we made last time something terrible happened? Those were a good idea. Let’s ~~enact~~ enforce those. Eventually.”

You’ll forgive my cynicism, but it strikes me that this is par for the post-tragedy course in Italy. Something dreadful happens, football and the government stand up and pound their chests, talking about change, some new regulations are passed, and then, after things calm down, the regulations survive only on paper, and Ultras and money continue to rule football. (You know, for example, that fans are “searched” before they enter the ground. And yet, somehow, fans manage to get cases of flares flares and the occasional scooter into the stands. Funny how that works.)

There have, however, been a few positive signs thus far, primary among them the instantaneous resignations of Catania director Pietro Lo Monaco and president Antonio Pulvirenti. (Whether they will stand by their initial statements, of course, remains to be seen.) Additionally, Lazio goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi responded to the horror of Raciti’s murder with a statement more clear-eyed and thoughtful than anything that came from the mouths of politicians or footballing authorities. His delineation of blame and refusal to pass the buck are needed reminders that this event is the fault of a culture, not one or two violent men.

We are all guilty, starting from the players who often with our attitude on the pitch or comments off it set a bad example of sporting behavior. The media are to blame for trying to create a buzz around a game by increasing the tension and giving meetings a significance they do not have. The directors and clubs are at fault for tollerating and even fomenting all of this. The fans are guilty, those who fire up hatred and go to the stadium prepared for warfare. Those who allowed politics to enter the arena. We hope that the actions taken by FIGC Commissioner Luca Pancalli can lead us to definitive solutions. As for the players, we must give our own contribution to ensure football returns to being a wonderful game and a moment of joy, not a way to release pent-up stress created during the week.

I don’t know when football will return to Italy, and I don’t pretend to know when it should. I do know, however, that events like this will continue until football and the government decide: To bring stadia up to code; to stop fearing Ultra anger; that lives are more important than money, and that sometimes profit must be sacrificed for long-terms safety. I’m the millionth person to say it, but taking 1980s England as a model is not a bad place to start. And the time to start was long, long ago.