Interior Minister briefs parliament on soccer violence

Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said Tuesday that 34 people have been arrested following rioting at a Serie A soccer match that killed a police officer.

Photo: Interior Minister briefs parliament on soccer violence

Amato briefed parliament a day after he and other Cabinet ministers held an emergency meeting with soccer officials to outline tough measures in response to the violence.

Of the 34 people arrested following the rioting in Catania on Friday, 11 were minors, Amato said. They were not believed to be responsible for the death of 38-year-old police officer Filippo Raciti, but were suspected of violence against public officials and vandalism.

Measures adopted at the meeting Monday in Rome include barring soccer fans from stadiums where security requirements are not met and barring clubs from selling blocks of tickets to visiting fans in order to control who enters the stadium, reports AP.

"It is a chance for change that we must not miss," Amato told lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies.

The measures will be presented for approval at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday.

The Serie A matches scheduled for last Saturday and Sunday were canceled because of the rioting after Palermo beat host Catania 2-1. The decision on resuming professional play would be made after the Cabinet meeting, Italian soccer federation commissioner Luca Pancalli said.