Calcio Update: Derby Abandoned!! (1 Viewer)

[Gandalf]

UPDATE -Lazio derby debacle overshadows Serie A action
Sun 21 March, 2004 23:28
(recasts with Rome derby abandoned)
By Simon Evans


MILAN, March 21 (Reuters) - Lazio's Serie A derby with AS Roma was abandoned in the 49th minute on Sunday, prompting violent scenes after the game when fans clashed with police.

Trouble started when a false rumour that a young boy had been killed by a police car swept round the Olympic Stadium. Flares were thrown and after 15 minutes of confusion the game was abandoned with the score at 0-0.

Later, outside the ground, police used tear gas to try to break up fans throwing bottles and more flares.

Second-placed AS Roma were trying to close a 10-point gap which separates them from leaders AC Milan, easy 3-1 winners over Parma on Saturday.
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Third-placed Juventus slipped further off the pace with their goalless draw at Udinese on Saturday leaving them 11 points behind the leaders with just eight games remaining.

 

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[Gandalf]

UPDATE 2-Fans fight police after Rome derby abandoned
Sun 21 March, 2004 23:38

(Updates with injuries, situation calming from paragraph 3)

By James Eve

ROME, March 21 (Reuters) - Soccer fans clashed with police after the Rome "derby" match between Lazio and AS Roma was abandoned on Sunday following a false rumour that a young boy had been killed by a police car outside the Olympic Stadium.

Supporters threw flares and bottles at police who responded with tear gas during fierce clashes in the area around the stadium. Italian news agency ANSA said fans had set up barricades in the streets.

But by midnight (2300 GMT) the situation appeared to have calmed, with the area around the stadium quiet.

Police said several officers had been slightly hurt but there were no serious injuries among either fans or police.

The match was four minutes into the second half, with the score at 0-0, when a fan walked on to the pitch behind the Roma goal to interrupt the match with the rumour of the death.

Both sets of players gathered in the centre circle to discuss the situation with referee Roberto Rosetti as flares rained down on riot police positioned underneath the south stand, where the majority of Roma's supporters were sitting.

The police department of Rome quickly denied the rumour via the stadium announcer, saying it was without foundation.

After a 15-minute delay -- during which tear gas and then smoke billowed into the stadium through the exits in the south stand -- the match was abandoned.

Italian Football League president Adriano Galliani told ANSA he had ordered the referee to call off the game.

"I took the decision because I was convinced that it was impossible to play," Galliani said. "I spoke to many people who were on the pitch and I chose the least worst solution."

Galliani said he feared a pitch invasion and had been informed the players did not want to continue the game, which he had been watching on television in Milan.

He said it would be replayed.

The prefect of Rome, Nicola Cavaliere, said he was launching an investigation into the events.

"We are investigating how this happened. False information such as this can cause real damage," he said.

Lazio defender Massimo Oddo said he and his team-mates were initially confused by the situation.

"We didn't know what was happening until Francesco Totti came up to us and said: 'We are not playing because a child is dead'," said the defender.

As supporters filed out seats were ripped up and burned, while outside a guardhouse was set on fire during skirmishes between police and fans.

Roma, currently second in Serie A on 57 points were trying to close the 10-point gap with leaders AC Milan.

 

[gray]

i'm glad the players didn't get too involved, and Totti did his job and talked to the Lazio players and referee.

The fans who went and disrupted the match should be banned. Sure, they can't get everyone who was throwing objects, but they can probably easily identify the ones who walked onto the pitch and blatantly lied to 'help' their team. Bastards

 

[Hydde]

Those guys must be right now receiving a lot of critics from everyone they know.... :s

 

[gray]

Actually, if all their friends are idiotic Roma fans, they're probably being treated like kings :groan::dontcare:

 

[Hydde]

Mmmm who knows.........

but they are surely receiving a lot of attention.

 

[sallyinzaghi]

aih, whatever goes into the minds of some people :stress: