Italian Cabinet Votes to Keep Fans out of Stadiums

By: Bob | February 7th, 2007

Stadiums in Italy may remain empty until they meet security standards. That is the word according to a decree passed by the Italian Cabinet today in the wake of rioting last week that led to the fatal attack of a policeman. The safety of spectators at any sporting event should always be a priority, but as the tragedy in Italy has shown that is not always the case. Just by taking a look at the list of the Serie A stadiums that are not currently up to code you can see that this is an area that has long been neglected despite past rhetoric that indicates otherwise.

Italy is not alone in its negligence. There are stadiums around the world that put fans at risk, but this is a subject that no one likes to talk about. So we don’t, until it is too late.

It is amazing to me that the San Siro, home to the AC Milan and Inter Milan, is not up to code. This was a stadium that underwent $60 million in renovations as part of the 1990 World Cup and which has hosted a bundle of Champions Leagues matches. It is one of the most famous stadiums in the world.

It now may be empty until next year’s Serie A season.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani believes the required work at the San Siro cannot be completed until the start of next season.

“They certainly will not be finished before October,” said Galliani.

“The San Siro is one of the biggest stadia and the work will not be finished before the end of the season.

“AC Milan and Inter have done everything possible, but there is nothing we can do to speed up the process.”

The process could have been sped up years ago if the codes that were put into law were actually enforced. But as is far too often the case in sporting world and in life, it takes a tragedy for action to actually happen.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: Serie A

Tags: AC Milan, Inter Milan, Safety, San Siro, Serie A, Stadiums

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Comments  

• Martha |  February 7th, 2007 at 2:09 pm

  
  
  

  I really don’t think it’s going to be empty. They’ll likely admit at least home season ticket holders, and possibly some other home fans up to a certain set limit. They’ve said that not ALL stadia not up to code will be totally closed, and the San Siro is close to compliance. (They just need to install, like, 86 turnstiles or something.)

  Posted from United States

  

• Marcello |  February 7th, 2007 at 2:11 pm

  
  
  

  Im so angry with the Sicilians

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• Martha |  February 7th, 2007 at 2:24 pm

  
  
  

  A (the?) list is out — the San Siro will be fully open.

  Posted from United States

  

• Muddia Beduddia |  February 7th, 2007 at 2:25 pm

  
  
  

  Martha, I think I can them a deal on those 86 turnstiles that could probably save 59,995,000+ euros that Galliani put out to bid at 60M.

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• Martha |  February 7th, 2007 at 2:29 pm

  
  
  

  Muddia, you’re on. Lemme see if I can find Galliani’s cell phone number — I know it’s on my desk somewhere ….

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• Bob |  February 7th, 2007 at 2:32 pm

  
  
  

  Thanks for the update, Martha.

  Posted from United States

  

• Martha |  February 7th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

  
  
  

  Ignore my helpful update, Bob — the source I was using was completely wrong, apparently. It looks like your guess about the San Siro being closed is likely to be right (though I don’t *think* anything is decided yet).

  Posted from United States

  

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